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The report highlights torture of inmates, ill-treatment, arbitrary and illegal arrest and detention, malnutrition and poor healthcare.<\/p>\n
Thousands are being held in overcrowded facilities across CAR with little access to basics like food, water,\u00a0sanitation and healthcare<\/strong>. This alarming situation is detailed in the\u00a0report by the UN\u00a0human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN\u00a0Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).<\/p>\n High Commissioner\u00a0Volker\u00a0T\u00fcrk said he was deeply troubled by the report’s findings and called on national authorities to take urgent and concrete action.\u00a0<\/p>\n He noted\u00a0“ongoing reforms in the penitentiary system present a crucial opportunity for the Central African Republic to address these human rights violations.”<\/p>\n Covering the period from January to December 2023, the report lists\u00a0numerous shortcomings, including non-compliance with legal custody time limits, excessive pre-trial\u00a0detention and dire conditions prison conditions\u00a0overall. It also notes the challenges faced by the judiciary\u00a0– although it acknowledges\u00a0some\u00a0progress has\u00a0made by the authorities.<\/p>\n The report reveals a troubling pattern of illegal and arbitrary arrests and detentions by army and security forces in CAR with over 1,500 people affected in 2023 alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n By the end of\u00a0the year, 1,749\u00a0people\u00a0were in detention awaiting trial, some for\u00a0nearly six years. It raises concerns that detention orders were issued without sufficient examination of whether\u00a0incarceration\u00a0was necessary and proportionate to the\u00a0crimes many were charged with, the\u00a0report highlighted.<\/p>\n Malnutrition, poor\u00a0healthcare and hygiene conditions have led to disease outbreaks in prisons. The report calls for sufficient resources to meet detainees\u2019 basic needs.<\/p>\n The report further urges authorities to respect legal time limits for detention and that pre-trial detention should be the exception, not the rule, and justified by\u00a0principles of\u00a0necessity and proportionality alone.<\/p>\n Mr\u00a0T\u00fcrk also called for prompt and independent investigations into all cases of torture and ill-treatment and for those responsible to be held accountable. He appealed to all partners to support the Government in improving detention conditions.<\/p>\n Both the High Commissioner and Head of MINUSCA Valentine\u00a0Rugwabiza acknowledged the Government\u2019s efforts on human rights in detention.\u00a0<\/p>\n These include more frequent court sessions, the renovation and reopening of three prisons in 2023 and the recruitment of\u00a0additional\u00a0prison staff.<\/p>\n In support of these efforts, they pledged continued UN\u00a0assistance to the Government to enhance respect for human rights and the rule of law in CAR, particularly relating to the detention system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u2018Crucial opportunity\u2019 to reform<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Disease outbreaks<\/strong><\/h2>\n