MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Central African Republic
10.9.2013 - (2013/2823(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Judith Sargentini, Barbara Lochbihler, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Raül Romeva i Rueda on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0399/2013
The European Parliament,
- Having regard to the 2008 Libreville Comprehensive peace Agreement between the government of the Central African Republic and several politico-military movements,
- Having regard to the United Nations Peace building Support Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA), established in 1999 to support Government’s efforts to consolidate peace and national reconciliation, strengthen democratic institutions and facilitate the mobilization at the international level of political support and resources for national reconstruction and economic recovery in the country,
- Having regard to the ratification of the International Criminal Court statute by the Central African Republic
- having regard to its previous resolution
- Having regard Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Worried by the continued deterioration of the political and security situation, marked by widespread insecurity, violation of human rights, looting, sexual violence against women, arbitrary detention , recruitment of child soldiers,
B. Whereas lack of accountability and impunity of perpetrators have been further aggravated by the breakdown of the judicial authority, particularly outside Bangui as well as by the destruction of the criminal justice system infrastructure, including court and detention facilities,
C. Whereas decades of political instability, personal enrichment of leaders, widespread corruption, successive coup d'états including the one which has overthrown president Boise last March 2013, led the country to state failure, chronic instability and fragility,
D. Recalling that Libreville Peace Agreement remains the basis for the transitional arrangement, which includes the formation of national unity government, organising parliamentary elections in 2014 and a presidential election in 2016,
E. Whereas while there is an overall agreement that the Libreville Peace Agreement should be the basis tor peaceful political solution in CAR, divisions remain on how to proceed with their implementation,
F. Whereas an International Contact Group on the Central African Republic (CAR) was established in May 2013 to coordinate regional, continental and international action to fin a lasting solution to the recurrent problems of the country,
G. Worried by the serious financial difficulties that the CAR is confronted despite its important agricultural, water and mineral resources (timber, gold, diamonds, uranium), and the inability of the transitional government to pay salaries for public administration including the security forces,
H. Whereas the humanitarian crisis has reached an alarming scale with 1.6 million people in need of assistance, including protection, food, health, water, sanitation and shelter;
I. Whereas the conflict combined with chronic insecurity have resulted in the scarcity of basic goods and increase in price, which have pushed the population to flea their home of which an estimated 206,0000 internally displaced and 60,000 refugees in neighbouring countries,
J. Whereas CAR's extensive borders have been porous and unprotected, with armed intruders from Chad, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo crossing the border to raid villages and poach wildlife,
1. Calls on Central African authorities and all stake holders to address the structural causes of the country's recurrent crisis and work together to implement the Libreville Agreement with the objective of reaching long lasting peace and democratic solutions,
2. Calls on all parties to respect human rights, international humanitarian law and guarantee humanitarian agencies to have immediate, unhindered access to all those in need and refrain from any acts of violence against the civilian population,
3. Calls for an investigation of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed in CAR and welcomes in this respect the establishment of Mixed commission of Inquiry;
4. Calls on the CAR authorities to end impunity and bring to the court those perpetrators of human rights violations in accordance with international criminal law,
5. Welcomes the EU action of humanitarian aid to assist the population affected by conflict and displacement in CAR
6. Calls on the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic (CAR) to support financially the CAR in order to create viable economic development, to restore functioning public administration and services and to put in place functioning democratic institutions, capable of protecting citizens,
7. Considers that transparency and public scrutiny in the mining sector is crucial to efficient mining management, to make public mining and exporting companies activities and revenues that the government receives,
8. Insists that a comprehensive political solution, including fair distribution of wealth and access to resources are vital in bringing solutions to the conflict and pave the way for sustainable development of the region,
9. Calls on the UN General Secretary to put in place a panel of experts to make inquiry on the exploitation of the CAR agricultural and mineral resources with the objective of establishing a legal system so that the country's resource benefit its population,
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the African Union, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Council, the President of the Central African Republic and Economic Community of Central African States Secretary-General