RES/23/18 Technical assistance to the Central African Republic in the field of human rights

GE.13-15263 (E) 010713 010713

Human Rights Council Twenty-third session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

23/18 Technical assistance to the Central African Republic in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 and Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007,

Bearing in mind the situation in the Central African Republic since 24 March 2013,

Reaffirming that all States are under an obligation to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international human rights covenants and other relevant international human rights instruments to which they are party,

In view of the Bamako Declaration adopted on 3 November 2000 by the French- speaking States and Governments, which condemns all coups d’état and any seizure of power through violence, arms or other illegal means,

In view also of the final communiqué of the special meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States held in N’Djamena on 21 December 2012, and the political agreement signed in Libreville on 11 January 2013,

Taking into account the efforts undertaken by States members of the Economic Community of Central African States, including those of the chair of the follow-up committee of the Economic Community of Central African States on the situation in the Central African Republic,

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-third session (A/HRC/23/2), chap. I.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/23/18

General Assembly Distr.: General 27 June 2013 English Original: French

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Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Central African Republic,

Concerned about the political, security and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, as well as the risk of clashes between communities and religions,

Deeply concerned about the human rights violations and acts of violence perpetrated against the civilian population following the events of 24 March 2013, including summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, torture, looting and other serious violations of international human rights law,

Recalling that such violence has led to the mass displacement of people,

Bearing in mind the establishment of a National Transitional Council and the appointment by this Council of a Head of State to oversee the transition,

Bearing in mind also the deployment of the Central African Multinational Force set up by the Economic Community of Central African States in the context of an operation to disarm the militias, train the Central African Armed Forces and secure the electoral process,

1. Welcomes the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the conclusions of the fourth special summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States, held in N’Djamena on 18 April 2013, and those of the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic at its meeting on 3 May 2013 in Brazzaville;

2. Takes note with interest of the decision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Central African Republic;

3. Condemns all the serious human rights violations and acts of violence perpetrated against the civilian population, including crimes, summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, the use of children by armed groups, torture, looting and other serious violations of international human rights law, as well as the arrests, arbitrary detention and destruction of property carried out by all the forces present;

4. Calls for an immediate halt to all such human rights violations and acts of violence, and for the strict observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

5. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Economic Community of Central African States to resolve the Central African crisis, including the decision taken at its special summits in N’Djamena on 3 and 18 April 2013 to set up an institutional transition mechanism in the Central African Republic for a period of up to 18 months;

6. Supports current efforts by the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States to resolve the crisis in the Central African Republic and to bring about a definitive return to constitutional order, peace and security in that country;

7. Encourages the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union, the United Nations and the partners of the Central African Republic in the stabilization process, which led to the adoption of a road map on a transition lasting 18 months, a Government of national unity, a National Transitional Council, a Transition Charter and a Transitional Constitutional Court;

8. Encourages the transitional authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and invites them to organize a free and transparent general election, with a view to creating conditions conducive to a return to constitutional order, to a lasting and inclusive reconciliation of the different components of the Central African population and to the consolidation of peace, while ensuring that women participate fully in the election and reconciliation processes;

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9. Requests the support of all stakeholders and all international partners to meet the need for significant financial, humanitarian and technical assistance and for measures identified as urgent priorities by the Central African Republic;

10. Calls on the transitional authorities to take all necessary steps to put an immediate stop, throughout the national territory, to all acts of violence against the civilian population, in strict compliance with the provisions of applicable international human rights law;

11. Also calls on the transitional authorities to ensure respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of all population groups and to take all necessary steps to ensure there is no impunity for the perpetrators of crimes, acts of violence or any other human rights violations;

12. Emphasizes the need to facilitate access by the population to humanitarian aid and calls on the international community, in conjunction with the transitional authorities and neighbouring countries, to continue to deliver appropriate humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons and to respond to the challenges associated with the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic;

13. Requests the High Commissioner to submit to the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-fourth session, an interim report on the human rights situation and, at its twenty- fifth session, a report evaluating the needs for technical assistance and capacity-building in the Central African Republic;

14. Decides to remain seized of this matter.

39th meeting 13 June 2013

[Adopted without a vote.]