20 Dec 2012

C.A.R. / SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura briefed reporters today on her recent visit to the Central African Republic. UNTV / FILE

Posted at: December 20, 2012 5:24 pm

Duration: 02:32

Available in: SD

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STORY: CAR / SEXUAL VIOLENCE  
TRT: 2.32
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / 6-8 DECEMBER, PAOUA & BRIA, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

20 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, dais,  
3. Med shot, audience
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict:
"Almost all the armed groups actually have committed sexual violence. At the moment in time there are six groups that have signed the peace agreement, and I think from the information we have, all of them. But unfortunately, like I said before, the Government doesn't have access to the rest of the country, it is difficult to have the concrete number of people, and I say again, because of the issue of the culture of silence, and I think we raised the profile of this problem and we made them put the problem on the table."
5. Med shot, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict:
"The Government itself doesn't really trust its army. But you can see the way the army has been abandoning its post, you know, the last couple of weeks. The Government now has to depend on Chad, so they have invited, I think it is about a battalion, is that right? Two thousand, so it's about two battalions that have actually gone into CAR, which gives you an indication that the Government doesn't trust its own army."
7. Med shot, reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict:
"If the Secretary-General is aware of the gravity of the situation, what it is happening, I can assure you 100 percent that he will take action. And that is the reason why I visited, because there was very little information in my own files, and I thought something is missing. And it is important for me to be able to visit and do a fact finding mission, so I went to the much bigger group and I spent eight days. Because for me, I should have gone for twenty-five, but the only way I could have the opportunity to engage all those people to understand the extent of the problems and the challenges was to stay there longer that it is required."
9. Med shot, reporters
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict:
"At the end of the day you have to have a security sector reform that will restructure the army and build a professional, well equipped and disciplined army under civilian command."
11. Med shot, reporter
12. Wide shot, end of conference

8 DECEMBER 2012, PAOUA, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

13. Various shots, SRSG Bangura stepping off plane and being greeted by women's group
14. Wide shot, children dancing to welcome Bangura

6 DECEMBER, BRIA, CENTRAL AFICAN REPUBLIC

15. Med shot, Bangura dancing with women after listening to their plight

STORYLINE:

The top UN official dealing with the issue of sexual violence in conflict, said today (20 December) that "almost all" of the six armed groups that have signed the peace agreement in the Central African Republic, have committed acts of sexual violence.

Zainab Hawa Bangura, who is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, noted that "because of the issue of the culture of silence" and the lack of Government control over most of the country, it is difficult to obtain accurate figures on sexual violence.

Bangura, who visited the Central African Republic earlier in the month, said that she believed she had "raised the profile of this problem" and had "made them put the problem on the table."

While in the CAR, Bangura signed two agreements on conflict-related sexual violence with stakeholders in the country's peace process.

The Special Representative noted that in recent weeks there have been numerous army desertions and the Government "now has to depend on Chad" for its security.

Two Chadian battalions, at the request of the CAR Government have been fighting rebels in the north of the country, which Bangura said, "gives you an indication that the Government doesn't trust its own army."

The official said in addition to focussing greater international attention on the situation in the CAR, the aim of her visit was to gain first-hand knowledge of the challenges involved in addressing conflict-related sexual violence there.

She said that if Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon was "aware of the gravity of the situation, what it is happening, I can assure you 100 percent that he will take action."

"At the end of the day, Bangura said, "you have to have a security sector reform that will restructure the army and build a professional, well equipped and disciplined army under civilian command."

The first of the agreements signed by Bangura and her hosts – called the Joint Communiqué of the Government of the Central African Republic and the United Nations – includes commitments to fight impunity for crimes of sexual violence; ensure the protection of women, boys and girls from sexual violence in the context of an effective monitoring of the peace agreement; and, provide greater support to survivors.

One of the key points of the second agreement – the so-called Joint Communiqué of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Steering Committee, which is made up of representatives of the Government, armed groups, the United Nations, and other members of the international community – is the requirement that political-military groups immediately release vulnerable individuals such as women and children.

Sexual violence in the CAR has been reported more often in areas controlled by political-military groups and where other armed forces and bandits are active. There are also serious concerns about foreign armed groups, in particular the LRA and Chadian armed groups.

During her visit, the Special Representative met with President François Bozizé, with the Prime Minister and other members of Government, as well as with survivors of sexual violence, women's groups and with female members of parliament. She also visited two regions outside of the capital – Bria and Paoua.