OHCHR – Central Africa Regional Office (CARO 2010-2011)

The United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa (based in Yaoundé) was established in 2001, following a General Assembly resolution, at the initiative of the Member States of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and functions as the OHCHR Central Africa Regional Office. The Centre promotes and protects human rights and democracy in 11 countries of Central Africa, namely Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe. The objectives of the Centre are pursued through advocacy, lobbying, dialogue, technical assistance and advisory services extended to Governments, parliaments, United Nations country teams, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and the media amongst others. 

The human rights situation in Central Africa continues to be affected by past and ongoing conflicts and is aggravated by the economic and food crises. Many countries of the sub-region are making efforts to protect human rights and achieve full realization of economic, social and cultural rights. However, political and economic instability causes major difficulties in complying with international standards and ensuring the rule of law.

In 2010, several Central African countries held elections. In some, democracy was threatened by dominant one-party rule, corruption and undue executive influence over the judiciary and the legislative bodies.

Access to justice is generally weak due to corruption and insufficient budget allocation, which lead to a considerable backlog of lawsuits and consequent poor level of accountability for human rights abuses. Moreover, some national legislation still needs to be adapted to international standards.

Discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, social and political affiliations, gender, sexual orientation and health status remains a serious concern. Trafficking in persons and the protection of human rights of migrant workers, as well as the absence of sub-regional coordinated actions and policies to address these situations, continue to prove challenging. Significant threats are addressed to human rights defenders, and the activities of civil society organizations are often hindered by budget constraints.

Most countries of the sub-region have generally ratified most key international human rights instruments, and some have made efforts to meet the overdue reporting obligations. Moreover, all countries engaged with the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. However, the level of implementation of relevant recommendations by treaty bodies and the UPR working group is still weak.

CARO has selected the following thematic priorities for its upcoming biennium:

• Impunity.

Governments of countries of the Central African sub region need to make more efforts in the institutionalization of the rule of law in order to curb widespread impunity characterized by the unwillingness or inability of the judiciary system to prosecute perpetrators. They need assistance in terms of capacity building and the establishment of efficient justice mechanisms. In this regard, CARO will continue during the next biennium to assist them in their efforts towards ensuring justice.

• Economic, social and cultural rights.

Based on the widening gap between the realization of civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights in countries of the sub region, CARO will lay emphasis on strengthening the capacities of the existing national protection systems and mechanisms to provide them with knowledge and tools in the areas of the Human Rights Based Approach to development and ESCRs.

• Democracy and good governance.

Democracy is the second main pillar of CARO’s mandate. This implies that the integration and respect of human rights norms into electoral processes must be assured. Strengthening the capacities of electoral commissions to operate independently and in compliance with international norms will foster free and fair elections as well as accountability in the management of public affairs.

• Discrimination

Widespread discrimination exist in most countries of the sub region especially against children, women, persons living with disabilities, and indigenous people. Progress is slow amongst governments of the sub region to adequately protect these vulnerable groups from discrimination. CARO will focus on reinforcing the role of NGOs in submitting reports on marginalized groups to treaty bodies, special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

• International human rights mechanisms

Effective cooperation with international mechanisms is instrumental to having the States to take steps towards the respect, protection and fulfillment of their human rights obligations. CARO will seek to ensure that governments of the focus countries increasingly engage with the treaty bodies, special procedures and UPR process by establishing mechanisms for reporting and systematic follow up on the recommendations.

The Central Africa Regional Office notes the following expected accomplishments which correspond to its work plan for the biennium 2010-2011:

• Law enforcement institutions in at leasttwo countries of the sub-region include human rights in their core training content
  
• National human rights institutions increasingly compliant with the Paris Principles
  
• Governments, UN, and civil society progressively address, monitor, and develop policies and programs to redress violations of economic, social and cultural rights
  
• Election management bodies, parliaments and the media are increasingly applying international and regional human rights standards and democracy principles before, during and after elections.
  
• Increased compliance of legislation and policies with international human rights standards in the areas of migrant workers, indigenous peoples and trafficking issues
  
• By 2011, the Governments of focus countries in the sub-region increasingly report to treaty bodies, engage with special procedures and follow-up to recommendations of international human rights mechanisms    

26 August 2011: Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa: Report of the Secretary-General A/66/325 [English-French].

10 March 2011: Administrative authorities, defense and security forces, UN agencies and bilateral cooperation partners, civil society representatives of organizations of minority groups, media professionals, university students and researchers will discuss elections and human rights in a ‘food for thought’ event organized by CARO.

31 January 2011: The United Nations Human Rights Council gave far reaching recommendations towards improving the human rights situation in Sao Tomé & Principe after the country went through the Universal Periodic Review in the council’s 10th session that ended on 4 February 2011. Link http://www.cnudhd.org.