A/HRC/42/49 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 6 August 2019 English Original: French Human Rights Council Forty-second session 9–27 September 2019 Agenda item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi*, ** Summary Serious human rights violations have continued to be committed in Burundi since May 2018, in a general climate of impunity. Some of these violations constitute international crimes. Members of the youth league of the ruling party, the Imbonerakure, are the main perpetrators. Officers of the National Intelligence Service and the police, along with local administrative officials, are also frequently identified as perpetrators of such violations. Burundi has been experiencing a political and economic crisis for more than four years. The human rights violations are essentially political in nature, and the suppression of civil liberties is intensifying in the run-up to the 2020 presidential and legislative elections. In accordance with the principles of early warning and prevention, the Commission has identified several risk factors in the current environment. The evolving situation must be monitored with the greatest vigilance. * It was agreed that the present report would be issued after the usual date of issue owing to circumstances beyond the submitter’s control. ** The annexes to the present document are being circulated as received, in the language of submission only. GE.19-13419 (E) 290819  030919