A/HRC/42/49 (c) Freedom of movement 53. There remain obstacles to freedom of movement. Barriers, usually operated by Imbonerakure, have been put up on roads in order to control the movement of the population. To be able to travel, Burundians had to regularly show a receipt confirming that they had paid the contribution for the 2020 elections or pay a varying amount, the final recipient of which remains unknown. Movement has been more strictly controlled in border areas and, in many cases, checkpoints have been the scene of acts of violence or intimidation. 54. In places, the local administrative authorities have imposed restrictions on movement after 6 or 7 p.m. applying solely to women and girls, for the stated purpose of stemming “unwanted pregnancies” and “debauchery”. (d) Freedom of religion 55. The Government has stepped up its control over the churches. With its allies, it has also issued warnings to religious leaders, including the Catholic bishops, in order to discourage any criticism or discourse of “a political nature”, and has called on the faithful to monitor them. Moreover, people have been forced to take part in the constitutional referendum or to join CNDD-FDD, even if doing so ran counter to their religious convictions. D. Violations of economic and social rights 1. Right to an adequate standard of living 56. Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries, with 74.7 per cent of its population living in poverty.25 The country is ranked 185th out of 189 on the Human Development Index, life expectancy at birth is only 57.9 years and gross national income per capita (at purchasing power parity) is U$ 702 per year.26 The country, which was in recession in 2015 and 2016, has been recovering since 2017, albeit unsteadily, as the political crisis has limited its access to international aid, on which it is heavily dependent, and led to a trade deficit, a shortage of foreign exchange and a rise in the cost of living. The people are also forced, without any legal grounds, to make regular contributions of various sorts, including to finance the construction of local offices of the ruling party, CNDD-FDD. The main contributions associated with the 2020 elections were partly compulsory, but on 30 June 2019, the President announced that they had been abolished and would in future be made only on a “voluntary” basis. The various contributions were collected by Imbonerakure, who did not shy away from resorting to violence and threats. According to evidence provided by witnesses, people who were unable to pay were often subjected to ill-treatment or deprived of access to public services (or both). 57. Many refugees who returned to Burundi under the assistance programme for repatriation have had the food kits and the money they were given taken from them by Imbonerakure and local administrative authorities. The perpetrators’ remarks, reported by the victims, indicated that their food and money were taken in what amounted to retaliation for having fled the country after 2015 and for not having participated in its development or contributed to the elections. These people then found themselves destitute, and some were forced to flee again. 2. Right to work 58. Hiring in the public and semi-public sectors, including in education, health, the judiciary and government-owned companies, is discriminatory; it depends on the job candidate’s political affiliation rather than his or her experience or qualifications. 25 26 GE.19-13419 World Bank, The World Bank in Burundi. Available at www.worldbank.org/en/country/burundi. United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update, p. 25. 11