OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTES - (1) Burundi, (2) Yemen
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville
Location: Geneva
Subject: (1) Burundi
(2) Yemen
(1) Burundi
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has just issued a statement warning that deeply worrying
new trends are emerging in Burundi, including cases of sexual violence by security forces and a sharp increase in
enforced disappearances and torture cases. He is also calling for an urgent investigation into the events that took
place in Bujumbura on11-12 December, including the reported existence of at least nine mass graves.
For the English version: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16953=E
For the French version: http://www.ohchr.org/FR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16953=F
(2) Yemen
This time last week, as you may recall, the High Commissioner issued a statement after he learned that his
Representative in Yemen was apparently no longer welcome in the country. As many of you are probably aware, the
Government of Yemen subsequently revised its position, and he will now be continuing as before. We warmly welcome this
decision by the Government, as well as their commitment to continue to cooperate fully with the United Nations.
ENDS