A/HRC/30/59 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 24 July 2015 English Original: French Human Rights Council Thirtieth 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, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum Summary This report follows two visits made by the Independent Expert and presents an overview of and major developments in the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. The Transitional Government has a number of significant achievements to its credit, including the organization of national consultations and the Bangui Forum, which resulted in the adoption of the Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction. The Bangui Forum also led to the signing of an agreement on the principles of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and a further agreement under which the armed groups committed themselves to stop recruiting children and to release all child soldiers from their ranks. The Transitional President also took an unprecedented step in the fight against impunity by promulgating a law establishing a Special Criminal Court competent to investigate the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed in the country since 1 January 2003, and to hear and rule in such cases. The challenges faced by the Central African Republic include re-establishing State authority, security and administration throughout the country; restoring the rule of law and justice; reforming the security sector and implementing the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and reintegration strategy; co mbating impunity; achieving reconciliation; strengthening peaceful coexistence and social cohesion; reviving the economy; combating poverty; and, finally, protecting and assisting displaced persons and refugees in their return and reintegration. GE.15-12489 (E) 180815 *1512489* 190815