MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Central African Republic (CAR)
17.1.2017 - (2017/2507(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Pier Antonio Panzeri, Nicola Caputo on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0074/2017
The European Parliament,
-having regard to its previous resolutions on Central African Republic (CAR) particularly of 7 June 2016 on EU engagement with the UN and the African Union for Peace Support Operations in the CAR,
-having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of the EEAS of 06/01/2017, on the attacks on United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA),
-having regard to the launch of the Brussels donor conference on 17 November 2016 by the HR/VP Federica Mogherini and the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui on the margins of the support to African peace efforts in general and to AMISOM in particular in the Central African Republic (CAR),
-having regard to the EU briefing on the Central African Republic by H.E. Ms. Joanne Adamson, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations at the United Nations DPKO of 21 October 2016,
-having regard to the report by the UN Independent Expert designated by the Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the situation of human rights in CAR, 22 July 2016 and Brussels 16 November 2016,
-having regard to the Council Conclusions on the Central African Republic on the peaceful holding of the elections in the CAR 14/03/2016 ,
-having regard to the statement by the Chair of the PBC CAR Configuration at the UN Security Council briefing on CAR, 8 July 2016,
-having regard to Article 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A.Whereas emerging from violent conflict between the Séléka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, the Central African Republic has made impressive progress since 2013 with the support from the international community in achieving a restored constitutional order with the peaceful and successful organisation of elections and completed the political transition;
B.whereas despite the political progress, CAR has remained in the grip of instability and sporadic unrest intensified with violent clashes in a number of locations, leading to multiple population displacements in the west, north and in eastern CAR; whereas the lack of civil liberties, gender inequality and restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and inter-communal tensions also remained serious human rights concerns in the CAR;
C.whereas the U.N. mission has 13,000 peacekeepers on the ground in CAR, but some civilians complain that it does not do enough to protect them against dozens of armed groups; whereas on 14 December 2016, the UN human rights has cited in a report on arbitrary killings, sexual violence in the CAR;
D.whereas in December 2016, the MINUSCA Mission supported a new dialogue between 11 of the 14 armed groups, as part of an ongoing effort to disarm the factions in CAR; whereas on 04 January 2017, according to MINUSCA, its peacekeepers on patrol were returning from the town of Koui when they were attacked by about 50 assailants at about 60 km (37 miles) west of Obo, which had two peacekeepers killed by unknown insurgents;
E.whereas reconstruction of the justice sector is still in its infancy, Police capacity continued to be extremely limited and this, along with the absence of a functioning judicial system, meant that little action was taken to halt or address human rights abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice;
F.whereas rights organizations have reported about serious fighting in the Central African Republic in late November 2016 between two Seleka groups that left at least 14 civilians dead and 76 wounded; whereas between January and June 2016, the security and humanitarian situation in CAR due to the rising violence in the central regions between Seleka factions is having a predictably grave impact on the civilian population, their humanitarian needs, and their human rights;
G.whereas between November 28 and 30 2016, skirmishes erupted between two groups(Seleka factions that fought – the Popular Front for the Renassaince in the Central African Republic (Front Populaire pour la Renassaince de la Centrafrique, FPRC), and the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (l'Union pour la Paix en Centrafrique, UPC) over control of roads leading to diamond mines around Kalaga, a town 45 kilometers from Bria, where both factions collect “road taxes,” especially in mining areas and on migration routes for Peuhl herders which have left at least 115 combatants on both sides dead;
H.whereas in May 2016, the UN Fifth Committee adopted a peacekeeping cross-cutting resolution which welcomed the Secretary-General’s determination to fully implement the zero tolerance policy, reaffirmed the need for enhanced coordination for victim support, and expanded the UN’s policy of transparency for allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA);
I.whereas on 17 November 2016, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini and the President of the Central African Republic, Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, mobilised the international community in order to generate political support and concrete commitments to support the CAR's authorities' ambitious agenda to achieve peace, security and reconciliation across the country, as well as to promote development and economic recovery;
J.whereas, according to the UN, nearly half the population of CAR is facing food insecurity and needs humanitarian assistance; whereas 40 percent of children under three are chronically malnourished and one in five children will not live to see their fifth birthday;
K.whereas since 2014, the European Union is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to CAR; the European Commission alone has provided €111.5 million (in addition to €30 million for Central African refugees in neighbouring countries) in humanitarian aid since December 2013; whereas at the eve of the Brussels donor conference on 17 November 2016, the EU announced an additional €11 million in funding to address humanitarian needs in Central African Republic and for Central African Refugees in neighbouring countries;
L.whereas the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) increased its activities across eastern CAR spreading beyond the mining areas, with attacks which have involved looting, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, destruction and confiscation of property against civilians and abductions; whereas according to the LRA crisis tracker, since January 2016, 344 people were reportedly abducted by the LRA group, including more than 60 children, with thousands of civilians also displaced in the areas where they are operating;
M.whereas since August 2016, the UN Mission has recorded an alarming increase in the number of incidents of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by the different factions of the ex-Séléka, the Anti-Balaka, and their affiliates, which have resulted in at least 100 killings, forced civilian displacement and the destruction of property;
1.Strongly condemns all forms of attack as well as aggressions and provocations against peacekeepers, and the civilian population; underlines that attacks targeting peacekeepers are unacceptable and against all international norms,
2.Deplores the loss of livelihoods and property, violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law which include; arbitrary killings, sexual violence and inhuman treatment in the Central African Republic (CAR),
3.firmly supports the efforts of the MINUSCA in helping the Central African authorities to protect the civil population and consolidate peace in the CAR;
4.firmly supports the authority of the UN Secretary-General to implement the UN’s policy of transparency (zero tolerance) for allegations of SEA, and welcomes the initiatives he has undertaken thus far in CAR; calls on UN member states to ensure that MINUSCA’s Conduct and Discipline and Internal Oversight teams receive the necessary resources to effectively respond to SEA cases and other crimes;
5.Calls on the CAR government to lunch a prompt, and impartial investigations of all alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law, appropriately prosecute those responsible -criminals and killers must be brought to justice, no matter what group they belong to- and provide adequate redress for victims of violations; firmly supports the swift establishment of a Special Criminal Court -expected to be completed by mid-2017- which needs to be sustainably funded in order to ensure accountability and put an end to the current widespread impunity;
6.deplores that the CAR’s justice system, which was already weak before the civil war, has been badly undermined by continued fighting, which has resulted in many court records being destroyed and legal personnel forced into exile; calls on the CAR government, with the support of the international community, to invest significantly in its justice system, including rebuilding its courts, police force, and prisons;
7.deplores that, due to a lack of funding, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is running a risk of soon needing to halt its aid to 150,000 people in crisis-torn CAR who have been displaced by violence; notes that the food distributed by WFP represents a lifeline for these displaced people who have lost everything and that suspending assistance would have a dramatic impact on their lives;
8.Calls on all international donors to support the EU humanitarian funding, including the WFP, to help those affected by the CAR crisis, both inside the country as well as those refugees in neighbouring countries, and calls on the EU to set up as a matter of urgency, a credible and holistic European system to manage the migration routes in this region by offering sustainable development solutions to CAR;
9.Believes dialogue remains the only way to ensure lasting peace in the conflict-affected regions of the CAR, and urges the government to respond concretely to the concerns of the international community in resolving the crises by adoption of a proactive approach to providing security to the locals,
10.calls on the CAR government, supported by its international partners, to urgently implement its National Plan for Recovery and Peacebuilding, in particular by reinforcing the capacities of the national security forces, by the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups, and by combating impunity;
11.Instructs the CAR President to forward this resolution to the CAR Parliament, the EU HR/VP, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Human Rights Council.