A/HRC/33/63 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 30/19 of 2 October 2015, in which the Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert and asked her to submit a written report at its thirty-third session. 2. The report of the Independent Expert covers the period from July 2015 to June 2016, during which time she conducted three visits to the Central African Republic, from 1 to 6 September 2015 and from 1 to 11 March and 10 to 20 June 2016. 3. In September 2015, she participated in an international seminar on efforts to combat impunity in the Central African Republic together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The seminar was organized by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in cooperation with the Ministries of Justice and National Reconciliation. 4. In March 2016, the Independent Expert participated in the inauguration of a research centre for human rights and democratic governance at the law faculty of the University of Bangui. 5. The Independent Expert is grateful to the transitional authorities for their helpfulness and cooperation. She welcomes the willingness of the newly elected authorities, from the outset to work in close partnership and to engage in a frank dialogue on the country’s human rights situation and on ways to strengthen national capacities and mechanisms. 6. The Independent Expert met with the President-elect, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the Prime Minister and several members of the Government, the President of the National Assembly and the members of his executive office and senior representatives of the central and territorial administration, including the prosecutor-general of the Bangui district court and the senior judge, whom she thanks for their cooperation. 7. Discussions were also held with the leadership and the various sections of MINUSCA, United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations, the force commanders of MINUSCA and Operation Sangaris, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, including the African Group of Ambassadors. The Independent Expert also met with various representatives of civil society, human rights organizations, women’s organizations, youth representatives and leaders of the Interfaith Peace Platform and other religious leaders. In addition, she spoke with representatives of political parties and of the main exSéléka and anti-balaka armed groups. 8. In addition to Bangui, the Independent Expert visited Bossangoa, north-west of Bangui, Kaga Bandoro, 245 kilometres north of Bangui and Ndélé, in the north of the country. She also conducted visits to the PK-5 Muslim enclave in Bangui, to the Bimbo women’s prison and to Ngaragba central prison in Bangui. 9. The Independent Expert extends particular thanks to the Director of the Human Rights Division of MINUSCA and its staff for their support in organizing her visits. 10. The Independent Expert also participated in two interactive dialogues with the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first and thirty-second sessions. During the interactive dialogue of 28 June 2016, she expressed regret that the Government and MINUSCA had been unable to send representatives to attend the discussion on transitional justice. In 2015, the transitional authorities sent the Ministers of Justice and National Reconciliation to attend the dialogue on efforts to combat impunity at which MINUSCA was represented by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African GE.16-12727 3