Rape, Mutilations, Atrocities Mark Central African Republic Conflict, UN Experts Warn
New York, Dec 23 2013 - Urgent national and international action is crucial to prevent the Central African Republic
(CAR) from plunging into full-scale sectarian conflict and protect civilians, particularly women and children, from
atrocities that have already killed thousands and driven 750,000 others from their homes amid reports of rape and
mutilation, United Nations human rights officials have warned.
“Given the serious nature of continuing violations in an environment of complete impunity, CAR is on the brink of
descending into atrocity crimes,” UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng said over the weekend at
the end of a visit to the country, where a year-long conflict has increasingly turned into violence between Christians
and Muslims.
“The worst case scenario can only be stopped if urgent measures are taken to stop the violence and those responsible are
held accountable,” added Mr. Dieng, who was accompanied on the visit by UN Special Representative for Children and Armed
Conflict Leila Zerrougui, and Nancee Oku Bright from the office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in
Conflict.
CAR has been thrown into turmoil since mainly Muslim Séléka rebels launched attacks a year ago and forced President
François Bozizé to flee in March. A transitional government has since been entrusted with restoring peace and paving the
way for democratic elections, but armed clashes have erupted again and the mainly Christian anti-Balaka movement has
taken up arms.
All three officials warned of the especially disastrous effects of the conflict on children who have been killed,
mutilated, subjected to sexual violence and recruited by armed groups since the beginning, and they stressed the crucial
need to strengthen the capacity and resources of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in CAR (BINUCA) and the UN
system as a whole to ensure an adequate and efficient crisis response.
The conflict has forced children to abandon their homes, in some cases separating from their families. Their schools
have been looted, teachers targeted, and classrooms occupied by armed groups. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates
that 2.3 million children are affected by the crisis, including thousands who have been recruited or re-recruited by
armed groups.
“There is no excuse for failing the children of the Central African Republic,” Ms. Zerrougui said. “I welcome the engagement of the international community to deploy forces, support the (UN-endorsed) African Union
Mission (peacekeeping force), and provide humanitarian assistance, but the needs are enormous.
“We need to urgently protect children from harm, reunite former child soldiers with their families, strengthen
monitoring and reporting on grave child rights violations and provide them with safe access to humanitarian assistance
and education.”
During a meeting with the three UN representatives, the head of the transitional government, Michel Djotodia, agreed to
allow unimpeded and regular access to all cantonment sites in the country so that children found in the ranks of the
ex-Séléka can be handed over to UNICEF and reunited with their families.
“Releasing children is an essential step,” Ms. Zerrougui said. “I call on the international community to assist CAR
authorities to implement a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process tailored to the specific needs of
children.”
The representatives, who also met the Transitional National Council, diplomats, religious leaders, civil society,
women’s forum, internally displaced persons, victims of human rights violations and humanitarian and UN officials,
voiced alarm at numerous reports of deliberate attacks and retaliatory acts against the civilian population, mainly on
the basis of religion.
Over the past two weeks Christians and Muslims have launched reprisal attacks against each other in and around Bangui,
the capital, where some 210,000 people have been driven from their homes. Nearly 750,000 people have been displaced
overall out of a total population of 4.6 million, 40,000 of them fleeing to neighbouring countries, according to the UN
refugee agency (UNHCR).
Ms. Bright stressed that conflict and displacement have heightened the vulnerability of women and children to sexual
violence. “I am deeply concerned that in this highly volatile environment, rape, forced marriage, mutilations, and other
egregious acts of sexual violence against women and children continue to be reported”, she said.
“All parties to the conflict must cease these violations, while humanitarian partners must also ensure accessibility to
crucial medical support and services for survivors of sexual violence.”
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
ENDS