UN envoy decries "gross violations" of human rights

The UN Special Rapporteur of Human Rights in Burundi, Marie-Thérese Bocoum, who on Monday completed a weeklong visit to the country, has decried the "gross violations" of human rights in Burundi. "With the war [between rebels and government forces] continuing in Burundi, I don't see how we can talk about the improvement of the human rights situation, human rights violations are committed daily," she said. Speaking at the end of her visit, she said Burundian women and girls were increasingly victims of sexual violations and rights to health care and education were not respected. A majority of the population lived in abject poverty, she said. "That is why I call upon all the warring parties to deploy all possible strategies to stop war, otherwise all efforts already made will be in vain, and this will discourage the Burundian population," she added. During her visit, Bocoum held talks with government officials, representatives of human rights organisations, civil society and political parties.