Division and Human Rights Violations in Burundi

Robert D. Nault Chair Subcommittee on International Human Rights Michael Levitt Chair FEBRUARY 2017 42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION Published under the authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons SPEAKER’S PERMISSION Reproduction of the proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees, in whole or in part and in any medium, is hereby permitted provided that the reproduction is accurate and [...] Reports of systematic human rights violations committed by the Burundian regime, as well as the rhetoric used by the regime and opposition, threatens the return of civil war,4 and the revival of genocidal intentions and actions.5 To date, measures taken by the international community have not deterred the commission of human rights violations.6 Yet, witnesses informed the Subcommittee that it may [...] During the course of this study, Burundi announced its withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,8 and ended cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 1. Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and st nd International Development [SDIR], Minutes of Proceedings, 1. Session, 42. [...] For example, President Nkurunziza’s candidacy represents the victory of a small circle of former civil war rebel leaders within the CNDD-FDD over the moderate wing of the party, which left as a bloc in April 2015.21 Over the course of its study, the Subcommittee received disturbing testimony of a prolonged campaign of systematic and widespread violations of human rights in Burundi, including extra [...] That is definitely going on.” Over the short term, unemployment and a lack of educational prospects may make Burundians more susceptible to the influence of the regime, or recruitment to the ranks of the Imbonerakure or armed opposition groups.135 RECOMMENDATION 6 That the Government of Canada call on the Government of Burundi to restore funding for the Ministry of Education, to allow secondary st