Examen du Burundi par le Comité contre la torture : la société civile dénonce une crise des droits humains
Geneva, 26 July 2016 – A coalitionof Burundian NGOs[1], with the support ofthe World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the International Federation of Action by Christiansfor the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT), TRIAL International, the Centrefor Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) and DefendDefenders (East and Horn ofAfrica Human Rights Defenders Project) have submitted a reportcondemning a resurgence in extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances,arbitrary arrests and cases of torture.
During the 58th session of the UnitedNations Committee Against Torture (CAT) from 25 July to 12 August, experts ofthe CAT will exceptionally examine Burundi following the deterioration of thehuman rights situation in the country, triggered by a political crisisaffecting the country since 2015.
Civil society has providedexperts with an alternative report describing the alarming situation in thecountry since its last review by the CAT in 2014, and in particular theworsening situation in light of the 2015 political crisis. The report documentsnumerous violations of the Convention Against Torture, such as the increaseduse of torture, poor treatment during arbitrary arrests and detention, and asignificant increase in extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances.
Thesignatories are also deeply concerned by the lack of investigations into theseviolations and by the culture of impunity prevailing throughout the country.
Therecommendations of the report call on the Burundian Government to put a stop tothese violations, to prosecute those responsible, and to guarantee compensationfor victims.
The report is availablein French and English.
Thereview of Burundi can be followed live at http://webtv.un.org/(10:00 CET on 28 July; 15:00 CET on 29 July).
[1] The coalition is composed of the following Burundian NGOs: l’Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition dela Torture au Burundi (ACAT Burundi), l’Association Burundaise pour laProtection des Droits Humains et des Personnes Détenues (APRODH), la campagneSOS-Torture / Burundi, le Collectif des Avocats des Victimes de Crimes de DroitInternational (CAVIB), la Coalition Burundaise pour la Cour PénaleInternationale (CB-CPI), le Forum de la Société civile pour le Monitoring desElections (COSOME), le Collectif pour la Promotion des Associations des Jeunes(CPAJ), le Forum pour la Conscience et le Développement (FOCODE), le Forum pourla Conscience et le Renforcement de la Société Civile (FORSC), la LigueBurundaise des Droits de l’Homme (Ligue ITEKA) et le Réseau des CitoyensProbes)