[French] Decrying the persistence of serious human rights violations despite the hopes for change nourished by the political changeover; and calling for the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry in order to ensure the documentation and in-depth monitoring of the human rights situation in Burundi.
Ahead of the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC48), 43 NGOs urge delegations to support efforts to ensure that the Council continues its scrutiny of the situation and its work towards justice and accountability in Burundi. In the absence of structural improvements and in light of a recent increase in human rights violations against perceived opponents of the Government, we consider that there is no basis or measurable progress that would justify abandoning the current approach or not renewing the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry.
As the Council of the EU and its preparatory bodies review the situation in Burundi and related EU policy, the undersigned organisations wish to express their concern that the EU and some of its Member States appear willing to overlook the lack of meaningful human rights progress and widespread impunity for past and ongoing serious human rights violations in the country.