Minister claims progress on human rights

Minister for Human Rights and Institutional Reforms Eugene Nindorera told the UN Human Rights Commission on Thursday that while Burundi had been besieged by armed conflict, civil war and massive violations of human rights for more than six years, the government could still “bring an end to the meaningless war” and establish a peaceful society. Nindorera said the government’s promotion of rights over the last 12 months had brought progress on human rights, a UN press release stated. Among other things, a new code of criminal procedure to guarantee rights and end abuses related to detention had been put in place, he said.

In April, the Council of Ministers would be studying a draft text aimed at creating a governmental commission on human rights which would have the power to hold the judiciary and government ministries accountable on alleged rights violations, he said. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burundi, Marie-Therese Keita-Bocoum, said this week that as the conflict intensified, human rights violations by both the army and the rebels were on the rise.