A/HRC/17/50 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 31 May 2011 English Original: French Human Rights Council Seventeenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Fatsah Ouguergouz* Summary This report follows on from the first visit of the independent expert in Burundi from 8 to 17 November 2010 and deals with general developments in the human rights situation in Burundi together with related institutional matters as at 15 February 2011. The report analyses the political and security situation of the country during the period of communal, presidential, legislative, senatorial and district elections. Overall, the elections were conducted in accordance with international standards and the irregularities observed were not such as to call into question their validity. However, the independent expert notes that a number of acts of violence were committed before and after the electoral campaign and that several opposition party meetings were not allowed to take place. He reports numerous claims that members of the opposition political parties were arrested and held. The report also covers various incidents involving political violence, in particular clashes between young activists, grenade attacks and killings. Concerning the institutional context, the independent expert notes that "national consultations" were held throughout the country on the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission and a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated during the various conflicts that had taken place in Burundi. These national consultations ended in March 2010 and the report was transmitted to the Head of State of Burundi on 20 April 2010. Significant advances have also been made towards the establishment of an independent national human rights commission, through the adoption of a law establishing such a commission, vested with substantial powers. The independent expert reports further on the main allegations of human rights violations brought to his attention, in particular violations of the right to life and to physical integrity, largely attributed to State officials. He notes, in particular, allegations of extrajudicial executions of at least nine persons in August, September and October 2010 by * Late submission. GE.11-13751 (EXT)