Documento - Chad: La resolución del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU es un avance en la protección de la población civil, pero persisten los motivos de preocupación

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL


Public Statement


AI Index: AFR 20/011/2007 (Public)

News Service No: 184

26 September 2007


Chad: UN Security Council resolution a step forward in protecting civilians but concerns remain



Amnesty International today welcomed the news that the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1778, authorizing the deployment of a multidimensional presence in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), to be called "MINURCAT".


Amnesty International hopes that this development signals a renewed international commitment to ensuring the protection of civilians in this war-torn region.


The passing of Resolution 1778 constitutes an important step forward in protecting civilians in eastern Chad and northern CAR. The organization calls for the force to be deployed quickly and be adequately resourced in order to best protect civilians.


However, the organization is concerned that:


  1. MINURCAT is not mandated to patrol the border areas between Sudan, Chad and the CAR, even though one of the main sources of insecurity in the region is cross-border attacks.

  2. The overall effectiveness of the force may be compromised by the limited number of police and military personnel being sent to both countries, as well as the limited scope of the geographic area of operation.

  3. The region is awash with small arms -- MINURCAT must put in place measures to stem the proliferation of such weapons in the area.

  4. Child soldiers are still being used and recruited by armed groups. MINURCAT must ensure the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers and other fighters as soon as possible after deployment.

  5. Women and girls continue to suffer rape and other forms of sexual violence. MINURCAT must urgently put in place measures to prevent such abuses as a priority.



Background

Since 2006, Amnesty International has campaigned, among other measures, for the deployment of a UN force with a robust mandate to protect civilians in eastern Chad and northern CAR. Despite serious mass human rights abuses committed within their territories, the governments of Chad and the CAR have either failed or been unable to meet their primary obligation to protect civilian populations.


Resolution 1778 comes just after a UN resolution authorising the deployment of a hybrid African Union-UN peacekeeping force to Darfur (UNAMID).




Public Document

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