A/HRC/33/63 section of the Constitution recognizes the existence of human rights as the basis of every human community and of global peace and justice, respect for rights and fundamental individual freedoms and the separation of powers. The Independent Expert welcomes the removal from the final version of those initial provisions, which would have guaranteed the incumbent President immunity from prosecution except in the case of high treason, and guaranteed former Presidents immunity on account of their capacity as honorary members of the Constitutional Court. 20. The first round of presidential and legislative elections took place on 30 December, having been postponed for three days. Overall, the elections took place peacefully with a turnout of 62.3 per cent. Thanks to the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), refugees located in Cameroon, the Congo and Chad were able to participate in the election. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not allow the some 112,000 Central African refugees on its territory to register to vote. 21. In connection with the legislative elections, 415 appeals were lodged, leading the transitional Constitutional Court to invalidate the ballot and to request a new first round of elections to be held. The appeals were based primarily on allegations of irregularities and fraud, corruption and intimidation of voters and candidates. 22. The second round of the presidential election and the new first round of the legislative elections took place on 14 February 2016. Observers noted a marked improvement in the conduct of the ballot, as the majority of polling stations opened on time and were properly equipped. The transitional Constitutional Court announced the final results of the presidential election on 1 March, confirming the victory of independent candidate Faustin-Archange Touadéra with 62.69 per cent of the vote over Anicet-George Dologuélé with 37.31 per cent of the vote. The turnout rate was 58.88 per cent. Mr. Dologuélé quickly conceded defeat and called upon his supporters to accept the results of the ballot. 23. The transitional Constitutional Court received 152 appeals relating to the legislative elections. On 14 March, the Court confirmed the victory of 45 candidates (for the 140 seats to be filled in Parliament) by an absolute majority in the first round of elections; regrettably, they included the anti-balaka leader Alfred Yekatom (also known as Colonel Rhombot or Rambo), whose name appears on the list of sanctions drawn up by the Security Council sanctions committee established by resolution 2127 (2013). The inauguration of President Touadéra took place on 30 March 2016. In his inaugural speech, the President stated that his inauguration signalled the return of the Central African Republic to the African and international scene, that security was his highest priority and that he would do everything in his power to enable Central Africans to live in peace throughout the whole of the national territory. He also drew attention to the importance of proper management of public resources and good governance, thereby demonstrating a willingness to break with past practices. 24. President Touadéra appointed his campaign manager, Simplice Sarandji, as Prime Minister on 2 April and his new Government by decree on 11 April. His cabinet, which consists of 23 ministers, includes 4 women and 4 Muslims, who hail from all regions of the country. The Government was generally well accepted by the population. The Independent Expert, while noting that key portfolios were allocated to Muslims and that no member of the armed groups was allocated a ministerial portfolio, regrets the inadequate representation of women in the new Government. 25. On 23 April, the Constitutional Court announced the provisional results of the second round of the legislative elections and confirmed the election of 128 members of Parliament. Of the 140 seats to be filled, only 11 are occupied by women. GE.16-12727 5