Press Release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses its deep concern over the closure of the United Nations Human Rights Office in Burkina Faso, warning of its potentially serious implications for human rights protection, independent monitoring, documentation of violations, and access to protection and remedies for victims.
CFJ considers the presence of a UN human rights office an important institutional safeguard for monitoring violations, documenting abuses, promoting accountability, and supporting human rights protection mechanisms, particularly amid the country’s ongoing security and human rights challenges.
The closure risks weakening independent monitoring, limiting cooperation with human rights defenders and civil society organisations, and further undermining efforts to combat impunity.
CFJ stresses that Burkina Faso’s international human rights obligations remain in force, regardless of the presence or closure of a UN office in the country.
Accordingly, the Committee for Justice calls on:
- The authorities of Burkina Faso to maintain cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms and uphold their international human rights obligations.
- The United Nations to ensure that the closure does not create a protection and monitoring gap, and to maintain effective and independent mechanisms for assessing the human rights situation.
- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to continue monitoring violations and supporting human rights defenders and civil society organisations.
- The international community to closely monitor developments in Burkina Faso and support accountability efforts to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations are not granted impunity.
The Committee for Justice emphasises that the closure of a human rights office must not mean the closure of avenues for monitoring, accountability, or victim protection. Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms must remain a priority.
Committee for Justice (CFJ)