Mr. President, members of the Council, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
I thank the Permanent Missions of Jordan and Luxembourg, particularly His Excellency Ambassador Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein and Her Excellency Ambassador Sylvie Lucas, for convening this briefing on the human rights and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis in the Central African Republic.
Mr. President, as you are aware, I visited the Central African Republic between 17 and 21 December 2013 together with my colleagues Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and Nancee Bright, who represented Zainab Bangura, the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Our main objective was to assess the risk of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity (atrocity crimes) occurring in the country and to advocate with transitional authorities and other relevant stakeholders for a cessation of violence and enhanced protection of the civilian population.
It was evident from what we saw and heard that the situation in Central African Republic was desperate. We received reports, and testimonies from victims and witnesses, that told of shocking episodes of violence perpetrated against innocent Central Africans, including women and children. And this violence continues, even as we are discussing the human rights and humanitarian situation in CAR today.
As I said in my previous statement at the “Arria formula” meeting of the Security Council on 1 November 2013, we face a situation of widespread and massive violations of human rights and abuses, such as has never been witnessed before in the country. There have been widespread reports of summary executions and other forms of extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearances; forced displacement; and acts of mutilation and sexual violence committed against adults and children, as well as the destruction and widespread looting of property, including hospitals, schools, churches and mosques.