A/HRC/36/64 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 33/27 of 30 September 2016, in which the Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert and requested her to submit a written report to it at its thirty-sixth session. 2. The report of the Independent Expert covers the period from July 2016 to June 2017, during which she conducted two visits to the Central African Republic, from 25 January 2017 to 3 February 2017 and from 7 to 16 June 2017. She travelled to Bangui, Bambari, Birao and Obo. For security reasons, the Independent Expert was not able to return to Bangassou as had originally been her plan. 3. The Independent Expert met with the Prime Minister and several of his ministers, including the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, Justice and Human Rights, and National Reconciliation, as well as the Minister Counsellor in charge of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation. She also met with the senior advocate general of the court of appeal in Bangui; the President of the National Assembly and chairs of the committees; the transitional president, Ms. Samba-Panza, and other transition officials; and political party representatives, including opposition leaders. She wishes to thank all her interlocutors for their cooperation. 4. The Independent Expert also held discussions with the senior management and chiefs of the various civilian, military and police components of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), as well as with representatives of United Nations specialized agencies, the diplomatic corps, the Economic Community of Central African States and various international humanitarian organizations. In addition, she met with representatives of civil society and of human rights and women’s organizations; with victims’ representatives; with representatives of the religious council and other religious leaders; and with representatives of the traditional chieftancy system, in particular those from Bangassou. She was also able to meet with representatives of the main ex-Séléka and anti-Balaka armed groups. 5. In November 2016, she participated as an observer at the donor conference organized jointly in Brussels by the European Union, the Government of the Central African Republic, the United Nations and the World Bank, the aim of which was to strengthen political and financial support for national efforts to promote peace, security, reconciliation and reconstruction, which are described in detail in the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan. 6. The Independent Expert thanks the Government for its cooperation and assistance and the United Nations and MINUSCA, especially the Human Rights Division and its staff, for their support of her mandate and during her visits, and all the individuals and associations that were kind enough to share their assessment of the human rights situation in the country. 7. The Independent Expert presented an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fourth session and met with representatives of the diplomatic corps and of nongovernmental organizations in Geneva. II. General situation in the country A. Security situation 8. The reporting period was once again marked by outbreaks of violence with increasingly frequent and intense clashes between armed groups, leading to disastrous consequences for civilians. Virtually no province has been spared from acts of violence perpetrated by the various armed groups. Sporadic incidents also took place in Bangui, including attacks against MINUSCA peacekeepers. GE.17-12914 3