A/HRC/33/63 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 22 July 2016 English Original: French Human Rights Council Thirty-third session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report by the Independent Expert, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, submitted pursuant to Council resolution 30/19. The report follows three visits by the Independent Expert and describes the overall evolution of the human rights situation in the Central African Republic together with major developments. The Presidential election raised great expectations among the population, which is looking forward to the implementation of the Government’s programme, especially as regards security and justice. The security situation is still marked by the heavy presence of armed groups throughout the territory, the threats they pose to the civilian population and to displaced persons living in camps or enclaves, intercommunity tension, issues linked to transhumance, clashes within armed factions, the widespread availability of small arms, surging crime rates, the absence of State authority and the marginalization of the population in the eastern part of the country. At the end of June 2016, the situation was still worsening. The Independent Expert underscores the importance of giving priority to ensuring the protection of civilians and immediately carrying out the reforms of the security sector that will make it possible to reassure civilians and to launch the other sectoral plans of action. The Independent Expert encourages the authorities to ensure that the road map and short- and medium-term sectoral plans are operational, with coordinated support from their international partners. The Expert commends the importance given to the implementation of the Republican Pact adopted at the conclusion of the Forum held in Bangui in May 2015, in particular as regards efforts to combat impunity and to foster the inclusion of groups that feel marginalized. GE.16-12727 (E) 150816  170816