Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (A/HRC/38/10)

Agenda Item:4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

26 June, 2018

Joint statement by: International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)

Thank you, Mr. President,

We would like to thank the Commission of Inquiry for their latest oral update and are looking forward to reading their full report when finalised. It is regrettable, however, that Burundi has continuously refused to fully cooperate with the COI on Burundi and has not implemented recommendations relevant to the promotion and protection of human rights.

EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice remains deeply concerned with the overall humanitarian situation in Burundi and especially with the deadly massacre that took place earlier this year in May where women and children were among the victims. This incident is but a small reflection of the overall seriousness of the human rights situation in Burundi where fundamental freedoms are denied for much of the population and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Furthermore, grave human rights violations including torture, extrajudicial killings and forced detentions persist without accountability of the perpetrators. Moreover, human rights defenders and journalists are no longer able to perform their duties due to deadly consequences as freedom of expression and association is restricted.

Mr. President,

We continue to call on the international community, and particularly the African Union and the East African Community to build solidarity and encourage Burundi to fully cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi and to implement recommendations that will protect the human rights of the people of Burundi.

To this end, we ask the Commission of Inquiry for an update on the status of Burundi with the International Criminal Court, as well as what direct or indirect measures are being taken to address root causes and what steps if any are in place to include the full and effective participation of women and grass roots organisations towards solidarity and durable solutions in Burundi?

Thank you,