Despite the signing of two peace agreements between the Government and the rebel Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR) in February 2007 and in April 2007, there have been no peace talks with the rest of the rebel groups and the situation remains fragile. Continued fighting has resulted in additional internal displacement in the central and northwest regions. The country is beset with chronic human rights problems, especially related to the lack of capacity of the judiciary and extreme poverty. Serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, especially in conflict zones, are rife; and State institutions are too weak to protect human rights in much of the country. The Central African Republic ranks 172nd out of 177 countries in the Human Development Index.
The Human Rights Section of BONUCA, supported by OHCHR, consists of an office in Bangui and three regional offices in Bambari, Bouar and Bossangoa. It carries out monitoring and capacity-building activities and played an important role during the process of political transition in 2005, especially in supporting the participation of women. It has also assisted national stakeholders, including the Government and NGOs, in implementing various activities such as training, monitoring trials, and visiting prisons. However, for several reasons, particularly the lack of human and financial resources, the impact of the Human Rights Section on the overall situation has been limited. Still, key State authorities have shown a willingness to engage with BONUCA and OHCHR on human rights protection issues, including investigating specific cases of human rights violations.
At the time of writing, the inter-agency Protection Cluster had yet to provide a coordinated and effective mechanism to respond to protection needs. The Cluster has developed terms of reference and a distribution of tasks, and has begun to expand its presence to the interior. OHCHR intends to increase its involvement in the Protection Cluster.
In 2008 and 2009, the Human Rights Section of BONUCA, with OHCHR’s support, will help strengthen its protection and promotion activities in the CAR by increasing monitoring and protection interventions, including through regular meetings about human rights cases with local authorities, coordination with the UN presences being established throughout the country, and regular travel in surrounding areas; preparing regular and public reports; providing assistance to local civil society organizations, particularly those working on monitoring and protection issues; increasing coordination with the UN Country Team’s Protection Cluster and the Liaison Office of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and raising human rights cases and issues with the Government; and increasing engagement with the CAR Government concerning the establishment of a strong and independent national human rights commission and the adoption of a national human rights plan of action.