Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Annual Report 2005 - Central African Republic
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 22 March 2006 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Annual Report 2005 - Central African Republic, 22 March 2006, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48747ca923.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Threats against victims of international crimes7
On 19 September 2005, FIDH and the Central African League for Human Rights (Ligue centrafricaine des droits de l'Homme – LCDH), jointly with the United Nations Peace-building Office in Central Africa (Bureau d'appui des Nations unies pour la consolidation de la paix en République centrafricaine – BONUCA), organised a seminar to analyse the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction in the Central African context, after the national authorities referred the situation in the country to the ICC Prosecutor in December 2004.8
Since they participated in this seminar, at least four victims of international crimes – who wished their names not to be mentioned for fear of further intimidation-, were subjected to direct and phone threats. Some of them were notably threatened with death and bodily harm, and they were all intimidated to dissuade them from cooperating with FIDH and from carrying out their "useless" activities against impunity. These victims were also approached by the authorities who tried to convince them to resign their membership of the Organisation for Compassion and Development of Families in Distress (Organisation pour la compassion et le développement des familles en détresse – OCODEFAD), which was created in December 2004 and gathers over 800 victims of international crimes committed since 2001, including rape, sexual and gender violence that come under the ICC jurisdiction.
[Refworld note: This report as posted on the FIDH website (www.fidh.org) was in pdf format with country chapters run together by region. Footnote numbers have been retained here, so do not necessarily begin at 1.]
7. See Urgent Appeal CAF 001/0905/OBS 086.
8. The Central African authorities referred to ICC after serious international crimes were perpetrated during the 2002 coup attempt against former President Mr. Ange Félix Patassé, in particular by Congolese mercenaries at Mr. Jean-Pierre Memba's command.
