STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 63rd Session
Item 10 - Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway on behalf of the Nordic Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
1 October 2026
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President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
We thank the Independent Expert for his dedicated efforts and for his report.
We welcome the efforts of the government of the Central African Republic to improve security, restore state authority throughout the country and strengthen local governance, as highlighted in the report. However, we continue to be deeply concerned over persistent violence in several regions of CAR and reported extensive and serious human rights violations and abuses. We call on the CAR government to investigate all incidents and hold perpetrators accountable.
We are particularly worried about the grave violations and abuses committed against children, including the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, abduction, maiming, and sexual violence.
We urge armed groups to release children from their ranks, and we encourage the CAR Government to ensure the reintegration of the children into their families, while bearing in mind the best interests of these children.
We further encourage the CAR Government to improve access to education for children in conflict-affected areas.
Children are entitled to special protection under international humanitarian law. What are the most urgent measures to be undertaken to ensure protection of children and children’s rights in the Central African Republic?
Thank you.