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GENEVA / CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC HUMAN RIGHTS
STORY: GENEVA / CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2.07
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH/ ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 20 JANUARY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations
20 JANUARY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Minelik Alemu Getahun, Ethiopia, on behalf of the African Group:
“The draft resolution before the Human Rights Council condemns all forms of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict and demands an immediate halt of these heinous acts.”
4. Pan right, Human Rights Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Anti-Balaka mutilated Muslim women, men and children, before or after they were killed, including upon the breasts of female victims and the genitals of male victims. Bodies were found at the Ali Babolo mosque with limbs cut off. A witness reported seeing ex-Séléka armed with machetes, chopping off the arms and slashing the neck of a young Christian, on 9 December 2013.”
6. Med shot, France delegation
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I urge the international community to increase its support to the Central African Republic for prompt restoration of security and state authority throughout the country, the promotion of the rule of law, and the realization of economic, social an cultural rights. A more robust response to the crisis is urgently needed in the Central African Republic to protect civilians, prevent further violence, end impunity and promote reconciliation.”
8. Med shot, US delegation
SOUNDBITE (French) Léopold Ismael Samba, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic:
“The absence of a State and poverty, far from being the consequences of the tragedy that my country is experiencing, it is the main cause. There is certainly a risk of genocide and the threat will increase crescendo if nothing is done to restore the attributes of the State and to help people to cover their basic needs.”
9. Med shot, Pillay at the dais
The United Nations Human Rights Council today (20 January) adopted a resolution to appoint an independent expert to investigate the human rights situation in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Council in Geneva announced the appointment of Ms. Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum of Côte d’Ivoire to serve as Independent Expert on the Central African Republic.
Last week, the UN said there was a real chance of genocide occurring in the country, as inter-communal violence continues between Christians and Muslims.
The resolution, which was adopted without a vote, followed a special session on the situation in the Central African Republic.
Earlier today, the United Nations’ top human rights official pled for a stronger effort to prevent CAR from sliding into an all-out sectarian conflict.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that “a strong and concerted nationwide effort is essential to stop CAR crossing the tipping-point into an all-out sectarian conflict.”
She told the Geneva based Council that “a more robust response to the crisis is urgently needed in the Central African Republic to protect civilians, prevent further violence, end impunity and promote reconciliation.”
More than 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.
The UN estimates that around 2.6 million people, more than half the population, are in need of assistance.
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