HDPT Central African Republic

BONUCA, UNHCR and UNICEF train civilian and military authorities on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Human Rights and Child Protection in Armed Conflict

Since 2005, the civilian population in northern CAR has been subjected to widespread human rights violations perpetrated by rebel groups, armed and security forces, and armed bandits (coupeurs de route). Attacks by coupeurs de route have recently increased and become more violent. The Central African Government lacks the capacity to effectively assert control over large parts of its territory and thus is unable to ensure the security and protection of civilians. This situation has caused massive population displacements.

Since mid-2006, UNHCR and UNICEF have been implementing UNHCR’s integrated protection strategy targeting 102,000 IDPs, including children affected by armed conflict, in the Ouham, Ouham-Pendé and Nana-Grébizi prefectures in northern CAR, based on a three-pronged approach: (1) sensitization of key actors on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, human rights and child protection (2) monitoring of the protection situation and displacement patterns, and (3) provision of material and non-material assistance to survivors of human rights violations.

Within the context of the first pillar of the protection strategy, BONUCA, UNHCR and UNICEF, in partnership with the National Refugee Commission and the CAR High Commissioner for Human Rights, are conducting joint sensitization trainings for civilian authorities and members of the armed and security forces on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. Six such seminars were organized throughout 2007 in Bangui, Bossangoa, Bozoum and Kaga-Bandoro. Préfets, sous-préfets, mayors, as well as members of the Central African armed forces (FACA), the Presidential Guard (GP), the gendarmerie and police, and the regional peace-keeping force deployed by the CEMAC, the Force Multinationale en Centrafrique (FOMUC), participated in these seminars. To facilitate communication with participants, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement have been translated in Sango, the national language.

In April, trainings were carried out in Markounda, Ouham prefecture, and Paoua, Ouham-Pendé prefecture. Each training included representatives from the FACA, gendarmerie, police, civilian authorities, customs officers, community leaders and heads of local organizations. More trainings are planned for the month of May and for the second semester of 2008 in areas affected by conflict and violence in northern CAR.

The main themes identified for the agenda of the trainings are the following:

• The situation in CAR and the responsibilities of the State
• The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
• Introduction to human rights
• Basic principles of International Humanitarian Law
• Child protection in emergency and conflict situations
• Sexual and gender-based violence
• The Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups.
• Durable solutions

The sensitization trainings aim to contribute to a decrease in human rights violations perpetrated by armed and security forces, and rebel groups by increasing the knowledge of all relevant actors on the rights of IDPs and conflict-affected populations, in particular women and children.