Senior official urges UN force to curb ‘horrific’ situation in Central African Republic
UN News Centre, 25 Nov., 2013

Citing mounting human rights abuses, sexual violence and other “horrors,” a top United Nations official today called on the international community for immediate action to halt the rapidly deteriorating situation in conflict-wracked Central African Republic (CAR), which, he said is “descending into complete chaos before our eyes.”

“It is critical for the international community and this Council to act now,” Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Security Council, proposing that a UN peacekeeping mission eventually replace the current African-led International Support Mission in the CAR (MISCA).

“We face a profoundly important test of international solidarity and of our responsibility to protect. We cannot look away. The situation requires prompt and decisive action to place protection of the people of the CAR up front,” he said, presenting a report from a technical assistance team that recently returned from the country [....]

“The population is enduring suffering beyond imagination,” Mr. Eliasson said. “As we see far too often, women and children are bearing the brunt. Human rights violations are mounting. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary executions.”

He noted that in a recent report Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced particular concern at the alarming increase in inter-communal violence. “Harmony among communities has been replaced by horror,” Mr. Eliasson said, noting that manipulation of religious affiliations is fuelling never-before-seen sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians [....]