HRC46 - NB8 statement - Commission of Inquiry for Burundi

Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry for Burundi

11 March 2021

Statement by Norway on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries

Madame President,

I have the pleasure of delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries: Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway.

We thank the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi for their presentation. We urge the Government of Burundi to cooperate with the Commission, to grant them full and unhindered access to the country and provide all the information necessary to fulfill their mandate. We are pleased that the transfer of power after the General Elections in May 2020 was mostly peaceful and are encouraged by the Government’s willingness to re-engage with the international community.

However, we remain deeply concerned about the continued human rights violations and abuses and the shrinking civic space in Burundi, impeding the enjoyment of human rights by all Burundians.

We reiterate our call upon the government to end human rights violations committed by the security forces and the Imbonerakure, including against members of the opposition, human rights defenders, civil society and journalists.

All instances of arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and sexual- and gender-based violence must be promptly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice, to end impunity.

How can the Commission of Inquiry continue to effectively report human rights violations under the current conditions?

Thank you.