Burundi
Burundi
August 2015 marked the 15th anniversary of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, which ended thirteen years of ethnic-based civil war in Burundi between the Tutsi minority and Hutu majority.
Recently, the security situation has deteriorated as the result of disagreement over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, resulting in violent demonstrations, excessive force against protesters, an attempted coup, and arrests of civil rights leaders. Women have been active in the political unrest, and staged the first major protest against the president’s third term bid. However, violence against women operates in a culture of impunity, with women experiencing rape, torture, and enslavement.
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for full implementation of the government gender quota of 30%, and equal and meaningful women’s participation in designing and implementing human rights protection mechanisms.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Burundi (November 2011)
In its consideration of the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Burundi, the Council is urged to give full attention to the recent rise in political instability and violence, including the Gatumba massacre in September, the subsequent Government clampdown on freedom of expression, and the continuing need for additional measures to ensure effective human rights monitoring and justice for survivors of crimes, including crimes of sexual violence. The Council is urged to ensure that:
- The National Independent Human Rights Commission receives adequate financial and other support to investigate and report on human rights violations effectively, and ensures journalists are allowed to work freely;
- The new Technical Committee – mandated to make recommendations to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the lack of accountability for those responsible for human rights violations and crimes under international law – clarify, as far as possible, the facts about past crimes under international law and human rights violations; provide the information it gathers into investigations and criminal and civil judicial proceedings; and formulate effective recommendations for providing full reparation to victims and their relatives; and
- A dialogue, with meaningful participation of women, is encouraged between the government and the opposition, to prevent further politically motivated violence and reprisal attacks.
In its consideration of the latest report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Burundi, the Council is urged to give full attention to the recent rise in political instability and violence, including the Gatumba massacre in September, the subsequent Government clampdown on freedom of expression, and the continuing need for additional measures to ensure effective human rights monitoring and justice for survivors of crimes, including crimes of sexual violence. The Council is urged to ensure that:
- The National Independent Human Rights Commission receives adequate financial and other support to investigate and report on human rights violations effectively, and ensures journalists are allowed to work freely;
- The new Technical Committee – mandated to make recommendations to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the lack of accountability for those responsible for human rights violations and crimes under international law – clarify, as far as possible, the facts about past crimes under international law and human rights violations; provide the information it gathers into investigations and criminal and civil judicial proceedings; and formulate effective recommendations for providing full reparation to victims and their relatives; and
- A dialogue, with meaningful participation of women, is encouraged between the government and the opposition, to prevent further politically motivated violence and reprisal attacks.
Relevant Resources
