OHCHR in the field: Africa Type of presence Location The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Country offices O Burundi Rights (OHCHR) continued to engage on the African O Guinea continent in a particularly challenging environment. O Uganda While progress was achieved in relation to Regional offices and O Central Africa (Yaoundé, Cameroon) democratization and the consolidation of the rule centres O East Africa (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) O Southern Africa (Pretoria, South Africa) of law in some countries, such as Burkina Faso, O West Africa (Dakar, Senegal) Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Nigeria where successful Human rights O Central African Republic (MINUSCA) presidential elections were held, a number of components in O Côte d’voire (UNOCI) UN Peace Missions O Democratic Republic of the Congo serious emerging and ongoing situations required (MONUSCO) the urgent attention of the Office. Nevertheless, O Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) the crises in Burundi, the Central African Republic O Liberia (UNMIL) O Mali (MINUSMA) (CAR), Somalia, South Sudan and the deterioration O Somalia (UNSOM) of the human rights situation in the West and O South Sudan (UNMISS) O Sudan (UNAMID) Central African subregions with the Boko Haram Human rights advisers O Chad insurgency clearly illustrate the challenges that the in United Nations O Kenya leadership of the continent must confront with the Country Teams O Madagascar O Malawi* support of the international community. The overall O Mozambique* situation was exacerbated by a deepening concern O Nigeria* over terrorism and criminality, attacks on civilians O Rwanda O Sierra Leone* and a worsening of political, social and economic O Tanzania* instability in some countries, which contributed to O Zambia* increased displacements, irregular migration and * Deployed through the UNDG-Human Rights Working Group. a growing number of asylum-seekers. The African OHCHR REPORT 2015 141 OHCHR IN THE FIELD: AFRICA Union (AU) was increasingly engaged in regional Country Offices initiatives to promote accountability, including the establishment of the African Extraordinary Chambers within the Senegalese judicial system to prosecute and try Hissène Habré, alongside efforts to adopt a policy framework on transitional justice in Africa. Additionally, the AU continued to play an active role Burundi in peace operations in Somalia and South Sudan. Year established 2015 Staff as of 31 December 2015 23 OHCHR field presences continued to support governments, civil society and other actors in Expenditure in 2015 US$2,144,784 addressing human rights concerns at the regional and country level, including violence against civilians, impunity, the rule of law, discrimination Results and threats against fundamental freedoms and civil society, in particular in the context of elections. Strengthening international human rights OHCHR provided support to various UN assessment mechanisms missions and for the implementation of the Human u Participatory standing national coordinating Rights Up Front Action Plan through the deployment bodies on reporting/replying to individual of human rights officers in Burkina Faso, Burundi, communications and enquiries are established; Guinea and Lesotho. Additionally, the Office and follow-up to recommendations of all human continued to support the Commission of Inquiry on rights mechanisms is integrated (EA 6) Eritrea, conducted a fact-finding mission on Boko As a result of advocacy efforts undertaken by the Haram-related abuses and carried out a human Office, a decree was adopted on 8 April which rights assessment mission to South Sudan. In order named the members of the Permanent Committee to draw the international community’s attention to responsible for the preparation of reports to the specific situations, the Human Rights Council held human rights treaty bodies. Since then, OHCHR two special sessions on human rights abuses and has organized a series of information sessions for violations committed by the Boko Haram group and the Committee. on the human rights situation in Burundi in April and December, respectively. Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law From headquarters, the Africa Branch provided u The status and recruitment process of magistrates substantive, technical and administrative support to comply with international standards and the all 26 presences in the continent. It also supported High Judicial Council is able to perform its the work of the Independent Experts on the human constitutional duties and contribute to the rights situations in the Central African Republic, consolidation of judicial independence (EA 1) Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Somalia and Sudan, as well as Following OHCHR’s advocacy, the recruitment the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human of 53 magistrates was carried out in compliance rights in Eritrea. The OHCHR Office in Togo was with international standards. The magistrates closed in June and human rights work in the country were deployed to various courts and tribunals in continued through the Regional Office in Dakar. Bujumbura and other provinces. In 2016, OHCHR will provide additional training on human rights The High Commissioner visited Burundi (April) principles and standards. Little progress has been and the Central African Republic (September). The made, however, in relation to improvements in Assistant Secretary-General attended the AU Summit the judicial sector and the administration of justice. in Addis Ababa (January) and went on mission to Specifically, many detainees remain behind bars South Sudan (February) and Somalia (November). without legally prescribed pre-trial detention periods and many politically sensitive cases have not been investigated. Moreover, the rights of detainees are generally not respected because of inadequate detention conditions and poorly trained police officers and prison wardens. Yet, some prison officials have been receptive to suggestions from OHCHR and have taken action to improve detention conditions and respect for the rights of detainees. 142 OHCHR REPORT 2015 OHCHR IN THE FIELD: AFRICA human rights defenders, most of whom have fled Burundi for security reasons. Those still in the country face many forms of harassment. © OHCHR/Burundi Burundi: Expenditure in 2015 Regular budget Extrabudgetary expenditure expenditure in US$ in US$ Personnel and - 1,571,039 related costs Activities and - 371,081 operating costs OHCHR staff members monitoring the electoral process in Burundi. Subtotal - 1,942,120 Programme support - 202,664 u A credible and independent Truth and costs Reconciliation Commission is established and GRAND TOTAL - 2,144,784 functioning in compliance with international standards (EA 3) The appointed members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were sworn in on 10 December 2014; the date that the Commission Guinea (Conakry) became functional. Nevertheless, in the absence Year established 2010 of legislation to protect victims and witnesses, the Staff as of 31 December 2015 11 Commission cannot initiate any substantive activities. OHCHR and its partners will continue to advocate Expenditure in 2015 US$2,549,525 for the adoption of the requisite legislation. Widening the democratic space Results u The National Independent Human Rights Commission is fully functioning in accordance Strengthening international human rights with the Paris Principles (EA 1) mechanisms While the National Independent Human Rights u Establishment of participatory standing national Commission (NIHRC) has not been able to refer coordinating bodies on reporting/replying to cases to the international or regional human rights individual communications and enquiries; mechanisms, the establishment and satisfactory integrated follow-up to recommendations of all functioning of its 13 regional focal points is human rights mechanisms; and submission of expected to enhance its capacity to investigate reports to treaty bodies and the UPR (EA 6) human rights violations, including cases of OHCHR contributed to strengthening the gender-based violence. OHCHR contributed to capacities of the Interministerial Committee in the establishment of the regional focal points and charge of coordinating reporting to the UN human will continue working with the Commission to rights mechanisms. A workshop was organized strengthen its capacities. for members of the Committee regarding the u A draft law for the protection of human rights International Convention on the Protection of defenders is adopted and a basket fund for the the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members National Independent Human Rights Commission of Their Families (ICRMW). This enabled the is established (EA 1) members to subsequently draft and submit Although the process of drafting legislation on the Guinea’s initial report to the treaty body. The protection of human rights defenders began in Government also submitted its national report in 2014, it is now being held up by the NIHRC which anticipation of its second UPR cycle. has yet to transmit it to the Government. OHCHR u The National Human Rights Commission, CSOs has held several meetings with the Commission and UN agencies increasingly engage with treaty and has requested the engagement and support of bodies and the UPR (EA 7) the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Human With the assistance of OHCHR, civil society Rights to help facilitate a solution. The crisis in organizations submitted an alternative report in Burundi has negatively impacted on the work of relation to Guinea’s second UPR cycle.