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 (October 2019)
As the Security Council discusses the situation in Burundi, it should prioritize advancing high-level diplomatic efforts and providing necessary support for mediation, given the critical importance of the dialogue process in the country. The Council must ensure the full and meaningful participation of a diversity of women and inclusion of a gender perspective throughout the dialogue processes. Burundi faces persistent human rights violations, repression and ongoing violence characterized by impunity. Any dialogue must result in concrete actions by all stakeholders in the context of a fifth and potentially final inclusive inter-Burundi dialogue. It is imperative that the Council put contingency planning back at the center of its discussions to ensure the timely, unfettered, and appropriate protection of the civilian population. Such protection should include planning for and support to the specific needs of women and girls. According to the UN Commission of Inquiry for Burundi, since April 2015, there is “reasonable ground to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed” (A/HRC/36/54). The Commission also confirmed the “persistence of extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, and detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment, and [sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)]” (A/HRC/36/54). Women and girls are reported to be amongst the first victims of SGBV perpetrated with extreme cruelty alongside gender-based, political or ethnic hate speech. In addition, the number of individuals with acute humanitarian needs has tripled in one year (OCHA). Some of the most affected refugees are young women and girls; their lack of access to education impacts opportunities to develop viable skills, resulting in increased vulnerability to exploitation and abuse. The provision of holistic and survivor-centered responses that include access to sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial services for women and girls should be included in any discussions. Host countries should be supported, and the Council should strongly advocate against any coerced or forceful returns and for transparent Refugee Determination Status procedures.
Relevant Resources
