Statement at the UN Human Rights Council – 57th session
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi
Delivered by Sigrid Lipott
Thank you Mr President.
CIVICUS and independent Burundian civil society organisations welcome the work of the Special Rapporteur. We also welcome the recent release of a journalist and human rights defender, Floriane Irangabiye, after being convicted from a flawed trial in 2022. Floriane should not have been imprisoned in the first place just like other human rights defenders in Burundi.
Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed in Burundi in a context of widespread impunity and dire situation for civil society, which continues to be suppressed. The 2017 law on foreign non-governmental organizations, inconsistent with the State’s human rights obligations, remains in place and represents a significant restriction the work of CSOs in Burundi. The work of HRDs and activists have been limited by numerous restrictions and attacks including harassment, intimidation, surveillance and reprisals.
Alongside undue restrictions to the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, serious human rights violations include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, by both state and para-state actors. The past few months have been marked by increased pressure over civic space and severe threats against journalists and prominent media outlets, while members of the SNR and Imbonerakure continue to commit human rights violations in order to prevent the dissemination of information deemed sensitive by the authorities. We raise concern over the unlawful arrest of journalist Sandra Muhoza, who remains in arbitrary detention under fabricated charges and we call for her immediate and unconditional release.
We also urge the Government of Burundi to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him access to the country and to constructively cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its regional office. We furthermore call on States to support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
We thank you.
