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 2015)
The situation in Burundi continues to be unstable, with human rights and security rapidly deteriorating. Currently, Security Council discussion lacks consideration of the gender dimensions of the situation and key women, peace and security issues, as is demonstrated in the recently adopted presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/18) which was completely devoid of any reference gender. Prioritization of a gender perspective is crucial to understanding the situation in CAR and the Council must ensure that gender is a cross-cutting issue by taking into account analysis and information on the distinct impact of the crisis on women, men, girls and boys as well as the roles of women, men, girls and boys. Further, in its discussion of the situation, and in any future action, the Security Council should:
- Ensure dialogue processes are inclusive of all parties, including civil society organizations, activists and human rights defenders. The safety and security of all those involved in these processes should be prioritized.
- Urge all international and regional actors, per OP 1 of SCR 2242 (2015), to adopt a gender perspective in their work in Burundi and further ensure that there are concrete actions taken to support the safe and active participation of all members of civil society, including women, in monitoring the post-election security situation as well as in convenings of donors and stakeholders at the international, regional and national level.
- Call for more information on the human rights situation, including gender-based violations, through reporting and briefings by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN-Women.
- Call for the engagement of women’s civil society organizations in any violence prevention and dialogue efforts after the election and failed coup, including creating a context for a new UN-supported mediation with an envoy.
The situation in Burundi continues to be unstable, with human rights and security rapidly deteriorating. Currently, Security Council discussion lacks consideration of the gender dimensions of the situation and key women, peace and security issues, as is demonstrated in the recently adopted presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/18) which was completely devoid of any reference gender. Prioritization of a gender perspective is crucial to understanding the situation in CAR and the Council must ensure that gender is a cross-cutting issue by taking into account analysis and information on the distinct impact of the crisis on women, men, girls and boys as well as the roles of women, men, girls and boys. Further, in its discussion of the situation, and in any future action, the Security Council should:
- Ensure dialogue processes are inclusive of all parties, including civil society organizations, activists and human rights defenders. The safety and security of all those involved in these processes should be prioritized.
- Urge all international and regional actors, per OP 1 of SCR 2242 (2015), to adopt a gender perspective in their work in Burundi and further ensure that there are concrete actions taken to support the safe and active participation of all members of civil society, including women, in monitoring the post-election security situation as well as in convenings of donors and stakeholders at the international, regional and national level.
- Call for more information on the human rights situation, including gender-based violations, through reporting and briefings by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN-Women.
- Call for the engagement of women’s civil society organizations in any violence prevention and dialogue efforts after the election and failed coup, including creating a context for a new UN-supported mediation with an envoy.
Relevant Resources
