A/HRC/RES/42/26
invite international and national observers to monitor the entire electoral process, in support
of a transparent process;
4.
Urges the Government of Burundi to put an immediate end to all human rights
violations and abuses, to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all, including freedom of expression, movement, assembly and association, to
promote the rule of law and good governance, to end impunity for sexual violence, to ensure
the safety, physical integrity and protection of its population, while fully adhering to
international human rights law and humanitarian law, and to ensure that those who commit
unlawful acts of violence are held accountable and brought to justice;
5.
Expresses grave concern at the findings of the Commission of Inquiry on
Burundi, which documents persistent human rights violations and abuses committed by the
Burundian national security forces, including the national intelligence service, the police and
the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party, in a persistent climate of widespread
impunity, while providing reasonable grounds to believe that some human rights violations
may constitute crimes against humanity, as first stated by the Commission of Inquiry in its
report covering the events of 2015 and 2016,3 and reiterated in subsequent reports;
6.
Expresses particular concern at accounts of sexual violence, including rape
and gang rape of women and girls for purposes such as intimidation or punishment,
associated with perceived political affiliation, as well as sexual violence against men,
including genital torture;
7.
Expresses particular concern at the increasing role and latitude granted to the
Imbonerakure, which the Commission of Inquiry found was being used as an auxiliary or
substitute for law enforcement, particularly in the interior of the country, and in this context
notes the possible responsibility of the Government of Burundi for the wrongful acts
committed by the Imbonerakure;
8.
Condemns the practice of widespread impunity for all human rights violations
and abuses and related crimes, while noting that the few investigations opened by the
Government of Burundi have not yielded credible or tangible results, and reaffirms its call
upon the Burundian authorities to conduct full, impartial, independent, effective and
thorough investigations into all violations and abuses so that all perpetrators, regardless of
their affiliation, are held to account before a court and all victims have access to effective
remedy and adequate reparation;
9.
Strongly urges the Government of Burundi to give due consideration to the
recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry in its reports, and to implement them,
including with a view to substantially reducing the risks identified in the Commission’s most
recent report, particularly in the electoral context, and to reconsider and revoke its decision
to declare the three members of the Commission personae non gratae;
10.
Strongly condemns all statements that incite discrimination, hate, violence or
segregation against Burundian citizens, including civil society actors;
11.
Expresses deep concern at the continued acts of intimidation and harassment
against civil society and the arbitrary arrest, detention and criminalization of human rights
defenders and civil society activists, and urges the Government of Burundi not to impose
measures that restrict the capacity of non-governmental organizations to operate in a safe and
enabling environment;
12.
Welcomes the release of more than 3,000 prisoners benefiting from a
presidential pardon, and calls upon the Government of Burundi to release all human rights
defenders and other persons who have been arbitrarily arrested and are still being detained;
13.
Urges the Government of Burundi to re-establish the conditions for all media
outlets to resume their activities, free from harassment and intimidation and without undue
interference, while expressing deep concern at the recent decisions of the Government to
limit the activities of media houses, including the suspension measures against several local
and international media outlets, threats and attacks against several media, and decisions that
3
A/HRC/36/54 and Corr.1.
3
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