Despite being a Member State of the UN HRC, Burundi’s government has been unwilling to engage with mechanisms of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and continues to deny the grave situation on the ground. Because of this stance, it is unlikely that thecreationof a mandate for an expert to provide technical assistance to the government at the behest of Burundi and supported by the African Group will translate into tangible results. However we did welcome the Council’s decision to adopt a secondresolutionon Burundi, renewing the mandate of the COI for one year. However, in light of the damning findings of the COI’s report, it is now essential that the Council acts to maintain its credibility and take steps to suspend Burundi as a Member State.

 

During a side-event hosted by DefendDefenders after the presentation of the COI’s findings, prominent HRDs explored next steps for Burundi in order to achieve justice for victims. While some panellists focused their presentation on the importance of an International Criminal Court investigation, others explored possible use of regional mechanisms. The panellists also discussed the challenges they face documenting human rights violations on the ground, particularly sexual- and gender-based violence.

During the session, DefendDefenders also highlighted the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, where citizens are confronted with an escalating humanitarian crisis. Since violence resumed in July 2016, at least 4 million people have been displaced from their homes. After numerous attacks against aid workers, humanitarian organisations have been forced to suspend their activities in certain parts of the country. The UN Commission on human rights in South Sudan gave a harrowing update during its interactive dialogue, and highlighted the extremely polarised and sensitive environment HRDs and journalist work in today.

 

While there have been some steps taken to finalise the draft statute establishing the Hybrid Court on South Sudan, a culture of impunity continues to fuel the conflict. On the margins of the session, a DefendDefenders side-event brought together members of the UN Commission on human rights in South Sudan and a prominent South Sudanese HRD to explore both African and international solutions to the conflict.The discussion focused on the Intergovernmental Development Authority’s (IGAD) decision to launch a High Level Revitalisation Forum to galvanise the peace agreement in South Sudan as well as make progress on transitional justice. At the same time, the audience heard about the real and practical challenges both the Commission and civil society face when attempting to document violations in the war-torn country.

 

While our focus was on these immediate crises, the delegation also brought forward other situations in the sub-region, where HRDs continue to live under threat. In the last year, HRDs in Sudan have been subjected torepeated judicial harassment, with those detained being at high risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. In this context, DefendDefenders and its partners called for the strengthening of the mandate on Sudan to an Item 4 mandate in ajoint letterandstatementto the Council.

 

Ahead of Kenya’s historic rerun of the 8 August presidential elections, civil society and HRDsworkin an environment of high tension as the uncertain political context fuels ethnic divisions and repression of critical voices. Meanwhile, freedom of expression remains extremely fragile in Somalia, with key legislation largelyunimplemented, while there has been a noticeable and worryingincreasein arbitrary arrests and detentions in Somaliland. We welcome the Council’s decision to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert for one year to assess, monitor and report on the human rights situation in Somalia.

DefendDefenders at the UN Human Rights Council