Burundi: Recourse available to victims of violence, including state protection (2013-February 2015)

1. Overview

Sources describe the overall security situation in Burundi as "stable" (US 2014), or "relatively stable" (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20). According to a 2013 public opinion survey of 1,200 Burundian citizens about the economic, security and governance conditions in the country conducted by Afrobarometer [1], approximately 70 percent of those surveyed indicated that in the past 12 months they had not felt fearful for their security; 30 percent indicated they had felt fearful for their security at least once in the same time period (Afrobarometer Apr. 2013, 6, 20). The January 2015 Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) reported on a "temporary spike in crime and increased concern about possible terrorist attacks" in Burundi in 2014 (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20). However, the same source noted that "the number of extrajudicial killings and cases of torture and ill-treatment, as well as politically motivated acts carried out by the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD [National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy], substantially decreased" (ibid., para. 33). Sources provide examples of common types of crime in Burundi, including the following:

theft, robbery and armed robbery (Canada 25 Mar. 2014; US 2014), the latter occurring "daily" and resulting in fatalities and serious injuries (ibid.);

assaults (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20);

highway robbery (US 2014) or armed car hijacking (Canada 25 Mar. 2014);

home invasions (US 2014; Afrobarometer Apr. 2013, 20, 37);

sexual and domestic violence, which are described by sources as "serious" (Freedom House 2014) or "rampant" problems (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 15);

"banditry," trafficking in weapons, kidnappings (Canada 25 Mar. 2014); and

attacks by groups with guns (APRODH Jan. 2015, 8) and grenade attacks (ibid.; UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20).

The US Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) indicates in its Burundi 2014 Crime and Safety Report that violent crime and incidents of "targeted political violence" continue to occur in Burundi (US 2014). Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) states on its travel advisory website that there have been reports of attacks against civilians by "former soldiers, rebels, and youth gangs" (Canada 25 Mar. 2014). In its World Report 2015, Human Rights Watch indicates that "beatings" and "acts of violence and intimidation" by members of the Imbonerakure youth league of the ruling party took place in 2014 (Human Rights Watch 2015, 130). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Nairobi-based researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) who focuses on conflict resolution in Burundi, indicated that politically-motivated crimes are the "most concerning," as Imbonerakure, police, and intelligence services have been accused of "abuse and extrajudicial killings against people believed to be associated with the opposition" (Researcher 25 Feb. 2015). For information on the relationship of the Imbonerakure to the authorities, including police in Bujumbura, see Response to Information Request BDI104343. The Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (BTI), which "assesses the transformation toward democracy and a market economy as well as the quality of political management in 129 countries," indicates that in Burundi the government "denies the existence of political violence and frames attacks as simple crime or terrorism" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 7). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Canada's DFATD states that crime rates in Burundi are "high" (Canada 25 Mar. 2014). Burundi's Independent National Human Rights Commission (Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l'homme, CNIDH), indicated in its 2013 annual report that although the security situation had improved, criminality [translation] "persisted" in Burundi throughout the year (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 57). The CNIDH report contains statistics on the following cases of killings and murders provided by the police: 349 cases in 2011, 338 cases in 2012, and 390 cases in 2013 (ibid.). According to statistics from the Association Burundaise pour la protection des droits humains et des personnes détenues (APRODH), a human rights monitoring NGO with 17 regional chapters, there were 409 people killed in Burundi in 2014, and 608 injured in attacks (APRODH Jan. 2015, 5, 29). Sources report that crimes commonly occur in the following areas:

Bujumbura (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20; Canada 25 Mar. 2014);

Bujumbura communes, including Cibitoke, Mutakura (US 2014), Kinama Kamenge, Kanyosha (ibid.; Canada 25 Mar. 2014), as well as Kinindo, and Musaga where there is a risk of "low-level political violence" (ibid.); and

Bururi and Mwaro provinces (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 20).

Canada's DFATD also advises against travel to the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (Canada 25 Mar. 2014).

According to statistics gathered in 2014 by APRODH, there were a total of 409 people killed and 608 people injured: approximately 58 percent of the killings were committed by civilians (236 deaths), approximately 28 percent were by unknown assailants (114 deaths), approximately 9 percent were by armed groups (38 deaths), and 5 percent were by military and police forces (21 deaths) (APRODH Jan. 2014, 30). A travel warning released for Burundi by the US Department of State indicates that crime in Burundi is "often committed by groups of armed bandits or street children" (US 30 Oct. 2014). OSAC reports that "[i]ndividuals wearing police or military uniforms commit crimes throughout the country and many police, military, criminals, and demobilized fighters make or supplement their living through robbing and extorting money from Burundi's population" (ibid. 2014). Similarly, Canada's DFATD warns that criminals are "known to impersonate security forces and set up fake roadblocks to solicit bribes" (Canada 25 Mar. 2014). The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 states that police themselves are "often implicated in criminal activity, including taking bribes" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 6). A 2 September 2014 article by the Chinese media source People's Daily Online reported that 192 Burundian police officers were in prison at that time for infractions including theft, illicit trade, or other professional infractions.

2. State Protection

OSAC indicates that police presence is concentrated in city centers in Burundi (US 2014). According to the Burundi Ministry of Public Security's Strategic Plan for 2013-2016, the Burundi National Police has 139 police stations throughout the country, the majority of which have infrastructure that is [translation] "in a more or less deteriorated state" (Burundi [2013], 28).

Sources report that crime in Burundi often goes unreported (Freedom House 2014; Researcher 25 Feb. 2015), as ordinary Burundians "have little trust in police" and perceive police to be inefficient (ibid.). The ISS researcher also stated that "people still call upon the police depending on their circumstances and the severity of the crimes, and most importantly, who is the alleged offender," noting that if the offender is an agent of the state the "chances [of reporting to police] may be lower" (Researcher 27 Feb. 2015).

The US Department of State's "Burundi Travel Warning" indicates that "[l]ocal authorities in any part of Burundi are often unable to provide timely assistance during an emergency" (US 30 Oct. 2014). Country Reports 2013 describes the Burundi police as "poorly trained, underequipped, underpaid, and unprofessional" (ibid. 27 Feb. 2014, 6). OSAC reports that the investigative capacity of the police is low, and that "[d]ue to a lack of training and resources, the Burundian National Police find it challenging to conduct traditional police responsibilities such as dealing with traffic accidents or responding to an emergency at a residence" (ibid. 2014). According to the CNIDH 2013 annual report, the police and judicial authorities [translation] "usually" launch proceedings against the suspected perpetrators of crime, however, it also states that the non-completion of police investigations poses, in the view of CNIDH, potential dangers to public safety (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 57-58). The same report documents three separate instances of murders or killings for which the police had failed to open case files (ibid., 58).

2.1 Witness Protection

According to the ISS researcher, "there is little to no protection for witnesses of crimes" (25 Feb. 2015). The CNIDH similarly reports that for some of the cases it has documented, it has had problems with witnesses and victims who have been [translation] "intimidated" and have "received death threats" (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 29). Human Rights Watch states that in 2013, a police chief who was tried for "murder, torture, and attempted murder" was acquitted of the murder and torture charges after a "lack of adequate protection" caused at least two witnesses to refuse to testify (Human Rights Watch 2015, 131). The UN Security Council reported in January 2015 that efforts to provide and strengthen witness protection have been "advancing," noting the participation of 30 members of the justice sector, police, civil society and academia in a UN workshop on the protection of victims and witnesses (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 30, 32). The same source also indicated that a draft bill on victim and witness protection was prepared and submitted to the government in November 2014 (ibid., para. 32).

2.2 Police Effectiveness and Corruption

According to Bertelsmann Stiftung, "police and security services are more often than not corrupt and unpredictable, and the CNDD-FDD uses them to advance its own agenda" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 9). Similarly, Country Reports 2013 indicates that the public in Burundi perceives the police as "heavily politicized and responsive to the CNDD-FDD" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 6). Sources describe "petty corruption" as "especially pronounced" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 32) or "widespread" within the Burundi police (US 27 Feb. 2014, 6). According to Country Reports 2013, this is due to low wages (ibid.). According to OSAC, "[p]overty, lack of resources, and omnipresent corruption promote criminality, which often goes unpunished" (ibid. 2014). The US travel warning states that corruption is "endemic" and officials may request bribes for routine services (ibid. 30 Oct. 2014). Additionally, the same source states that "criminals who have paid off local officials may operate without fear of prosecution" (ibid.). The UN reported in January 2015 that the government has taken some steps to address corruption, which is characterized as "widespread," but that anti-corruption policies have "produced few results" (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 26).

The UN reports that the CNIDH, in coordination with the UN, conducted a three-month training course to "professionalize" Burundian security forces in accordance with international human rights standards, and as a result, 35 military, police, and intelligence officers were certified as "human rights trainers" in September 2014 (ibid., para. 23). According to the Afrobarometer 2013 survey, 59 percent of 1,200 survey respondents perceived the government's performance in reducing crime to be "good," and 40 percent perceived it to be "bad" (Afrobarometer Apr. 2013, 27).

2.3 Arbitrary Detention, Torture and Extrajudicial Killings

Sources report on the continued involvement of the police in human rights violations (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 66; Researcher 27 Feb. 2015). During 2013, CNIDH received 14 complaints of [translation] "arbitrary or illegal" detention; for the period of 2011-2013 the organization received 80 such complaints: 30 of these cases were closed, 49 are in process, and 1 was dismissed (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 27). The CNIDH also reported receiving separate complaints of 10 instances of "torture" in 2013, 8 of which were proven to be true violations (ibid., 29).

Sources report that cases of "extrajudicial executions" by security forces including police have occurred (US 27 Feb. 2014, 1; Freedom House 2014), described by Freedom House as an "unusually large number" in recent years, though less in 2013 than in 2010-2012 (ibid.). The UN has documented 138 cases of extrajudicial killing since 2011, 34 of which have been tried in court (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 36.). Sources report that in Burundi, "impunity" for police brutality remains "widespread" (Freedom House 2014; US 27 Feb. 2014, 6) and according to Country Reports 2013, the government is reluctant and slow to investigate and prosecute cases of "torture, killing, and extrajudicial execution" involving police officials (ibid.). The UN similarly states that, in reference to cases of extrajudicial killings and torture, "no significant progress was made in the fight against impunity" (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 36).

A September 2014 joint report by eight Burundian civil society organizations regarding civil and political rights in Burundi stated that the CNIDH had received 20 cases of allegations of torture in 2012, and that one officer had been sentenced to 10 years in prison (CSO Coalition 12 Sept. 2014, 10).

2.4 Civilian Oversight of the Police

The UN reports that civilian oversight of the police is "weak" (UN 19 Jan. 2015, para. 66). Country Reports 2013 indicates that "there is no entity that examined security force killings" to evaluate whether they occurred justifiably or not (US 27 Feb. 2014, 2). According to a 2014 audit of the Inspector General of the Burundi National Police, conducted in partnership with the governments of Burundi and Holland, and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) [2], there are several services that deal with overseeing the police [within the police force or the Ministry of Public Security itself, as well as the anti-corruption task force], however there is [translation] "no independent institution officially responsible for handling citizen complaints about police" and no external complaint mechanism outside the police itself (Burundi et al. 13 May 2014, 8).

Sources report that the government's anti-corruption task force can also be approached for complaints of corruption, including of police corruption (ibid.; Researcher 25 Feb. 2014). However, according to the ISS researcher, the anti-corruption authority has "limited resources" and does not "have the leverage it needs to be more efficient" (ibid.).

2.5 Judiciary

Burundi's judiciary is "hindered by corruption, a lack of resources and training, and executive interference in legal matters" (Freedom House 2014). Bertelsmann Stiftung similarly notes that members of the lower levels of the judiciary are "poorly trained and equipped" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 15). Freedom House indicates that the system "struggles to function effectively or independently and cannot handle the large number of pending cases, many of which are politically sensitive" (Freedom House 2014). Bertelsmann Stiftung also notes that members of the judiciary are exposed to "pressure" from government officials via the police, the secret service, and members of the Imbonerakure (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 15). A 2011 study on access to legal aid in Burundi by Avocats sans frontières (ASF), an international NGO aimed at building institutions and mechanisms for access to independent and impartial justice (ASF June 2011, 3), found that there is a lack of impartiality by judges and a [translation] "very prevalent lack of execution of court judgments" (ASF June 2011, 28).

APRODH's 2014 annual report describes a case in which the police chief for the Kinyinya commune was tried and sentenced to 5 years in prison for acts of torture, and was also ordered to pay a fine as well as compensation to the victim (APRODH Jan. 2015, 18). APRODH reports that [translation] "the judgement was not carried out" and the victim approached an NGO for assistance (ibid.). The police chief was arrested by the Prosecutor General of the Court of Appeal in Gitega, and driven to prison; the case was delayed several times (ibid.). According to Human Rights Watch, he was tried in 2013 on charges of murder, torture and attempted murder, a "rare prosecution of an official for human rights abuses" (Human Rights Watch 29 Jan. 2015, 131). He was acquitted of murder and torture, found guilty of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to three months but released, as he had already served a year (ibid.).

The CSO coalition report describes the 2010 case of an agent of the intelligence service who was found guilty of raping a minor and sentenced to twenty years in prison, but remains free after [translation] "pressures from higher authorities" stopped attempts to apprehend him (CSO Coalition 12 Sept. 2014, 16). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Additional Avenues of Recourse for Victims of Crime

3.1 National Human Rights Commission and Office of the Ombudsman

A 2013 study of ombudsman institutions in Francophone Africa published by the DCAF and written by Athanese Ndikumana, a "national expert for democratic governance" within the UN Development Programme in Burundi (Bayala et al. 2013, 95) [3], indicates that the CNIDH has a "broad mandate" to receive and investigate complaints of human rights abuses, refer cases to the Public Prosecutor, and to "draw to the government's attention any case of human rights violations, wherever they occur, and propose any measures likely to promote the protection of those rights" (Ndikumana 2013, 52). The same source reports that the CNIDH and the Office of the Ombudsman are mandated to "act as mediators" (ibid., 50). Sources state that the CNIDH has opened three regional offices (US 27 Feb. 2014, 18; CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 11), in Makamba, Gitega, and Ngozi; and they are responsible for investigating abuses across the country (ibid.).

Matters may be referred to the CNIDH by any person (CNIDH n.d.; Ndikumana 2013, 60) or by NGOs, or investigated upon the initiative of the CNIDH (ibid.). According to the website of the CNIDH, complaints may be made verbally, by letter to the CNIDH, by calling the CNIDH hotline, or by [translation] "any other practical means" in the language of the applicant's choice (CNIDH n.d.).

Ndikumana reports that the CNIDH's "current membership" consists of seven members and a Board of the Commission made up of a president, vice-president, and secretary (Ndikumana 2013, 59). Bertelsmann Stiftung indicates that the CNIDH "lacks the necessary material and human resources to effectively implement its program" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 14). Similarly, the CNIDH indicated that it faces [translation] "major constraints" due to lack of human, material, and financial resources, and lack of resources to increase mobility to investigate allegations around the country (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 11).

The CNIDH 2013 annual report indicates that the organization received 251 complaints related to human rights violations during the year, the majority of which related to requests for [translation] "orientation and assistance" (98), followed by violations of the liberty and security of the person (27), and requests for legal assistance (43) (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 16). The same report notes that the CNIDH received a total of 121 requests for legal assistance between 2011-2013 (ibid., 21). CNIDH states that it [translation] "does not have sufficient means to respond adequately to all the demands it receives" for legal aid (CNIDH 29 Aug. 2014, 21). Similarly, the ISS researcher indicated that the CNIDH is "reportedly underfunded" (Researcher 27 Feb. 2015).

Complaints to the Ombudsman in the event of "maladministration or human rights violations" can be made by individuals who submit written or oral complaints, but complaints cannot be made by NGOs (Ndikumana 2013, 56). Ndikumana indicates that at the provincial level, the Office of the Ombudsman is represented only in the province of Ngozi as of 2013 (ibid.). The source notes that the office lacks "proper human resources to carry out its mandate" (ibid., 62).

According to Country Reports 2013, the CNIDH and Office of the Ombudsman are "widely perceived by both Burundians and international partners to be impartial and effective" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 18). However, Bertelsmann Stiftung indicates that the "independence" of the CNIDH and the Ombudsman's Office are "fragile," as both institutions are "headed by personnel close to the government" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014, 14). Similarly, Ndikumana indicates that within the Ombudsman's office, "all appointed staff are political representatives rather than independent experts" (Ndikumana 2013, 56). The same source characterizes the CNIDH's "politicization" as an institutional "weakness" because "the selection process of its members connects them to hidden sponsors" (ibid., 63).

3.2 Legal Aid

According to a baseline study of the state of legal aid in Burundi by Avocats sans frontières (ASF), there are 170 lawyers in Burundi, and 47,000 people per lawyer for a population of 8 million (ASF June 2011, 33). The study notes that 100 percent of lawyers in Burundi are based in urban areas (ibid.). The CSO Coalition reports that several NGOs offer legal assistance in Burundi, including ASF, Action des Chrétiens pour l'Abolition de la Torture (ACAT), and Centre Seruka (CSO Coalition 12 Sept. 2014, 33). According to the APRODH report, it had nine projects across Burundi that provided legal assistance and provided counselling and orientation services (APRODH Jan. 2015, 52). The ISS researcher indicated that, when not turning to the police, Burundians go to "traditional leaders or courts, local security organizations, or their friends or family" to seek assistance, and expressed the opinion that should people forego the official legal process, including reporting crimes to police, legal remedy is "unlikely" (27 Feb. 2015).

The ASF study indicates that legal aid services in Burundi are [translation] "almost exclusively" provided by national and international civil society groups, are funded externally, and call on the voluntary services of lawyers and paralegal professionals (ASF June 2011, 9). Sources report that NGO programs for legal aid are not always available due to the limited resources of these organizations (CSO Coalition 12 Sept. 2014, 33; Researcher 27 Feb. 2015).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] Afrobarometer is a pan-African research network funded by organizations including Swedish, American and British government development agencies (Afrobarometer Apr. 2013, 5).

[2] The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) contributes to "enhancing security sector governance through security sector reform" and works "to support effective, efficient security sectors which are accountable to the state and its citizens" (DCAF n.d.).

[3] Athanase Ndikumana is a former Burundian civil servant, who is an independent consultant on peacebuilding, security and development issues; he also served as a national expert on democratic governance for the UN in Burundi and is a lecturer at the Institut Supérieur de Commerce at the University of Burundi (Ndikumana 2013, 95). The chapter on Burundi's Ombuds institutions, written by Ndikumana, is published in the report Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces in Francophone Africa: Burkina Faso, Burundi and Senegal, published by the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which are organizations engaged in developing ombuds institutions in the armed forces (ibid., 4).

References

Afrobarometer. April 2013. Les conditions économiques, les performances du gouvernement, la sécurité et la bonne gouvernance au Burundi: Résultats du sondage du round 5 de Afrobaromètre au Burundi. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2015]

Association burundaise pour la protection des droits humains et des personnes détenues (APRODH). January 2015. Rapport annuel 2014. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

Avocats sans frontières (ASF). June 2011. Étude de base sur l'aide légale au Burundi. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2014. Transformation Index. BTI 2014: Burundi Country Report. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

Burundi. [2013]. Ministry of Public Security. Plan stratégique du Ministère de la Sécurite publique 2013-2016. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

Burundi, Holland, and the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). 13 May 2014. Audit de l'inspection generale de la securite publique du Burundi - Rapport final. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

Canada. 25 March 2014. Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). "Burundi." [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

Civil Society Coalition of Actions des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture (ACAT-Burundi); Association des femmes juristes du Burundi (AFJB); Association burundaise pour la protection des droits humains et des personnes détenues (APRODH); Association pour la recherche sur l'environnement, la démocratie et les droits de l'homme au Burundi (AREDDHO-Burundi); Forum pour le renforcement de la société civile burundaise, Forum pour la conscience et le développement (FOCODE), Observatoire Ineza des droits de l'enfant, Coalition Burundaise pour la cour pénale internationale (CB-CPI). 12 September 2014. Rapport alternatif de la société civile sur la mise en oeuvre du pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP). [Accessed 19 Feb. 2015]

Commission nationale indépendante des droits de l'homme (CNIDH). 29 August 2014. Rapport Annuel 2013. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2015]

_____. N.d. "Procedure de plainte." [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

Freedom House. 2014. "Burundi." Freedom in the World. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2015]

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). N.d. [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]

Human Rights Watch. 29 January 2015. "Burundi." World Report 2015: Events of 2014. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

Ndikumana, Athanase. 2013. "Chapter 2: Burundi." Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces in Francophone Africa. Edited by Delphine Hayim. Geneva: The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

People's Daily Online. 2 September 2014. "Burundi: 192 policiers en prison pour des infractions." (Factiva)

Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Nairobi, Kenya. 25 February 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

_____. 27 February 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

United Nations (UN). 19 January 2015. Security Council. Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office in Burundi. (S/2015/36). [Accessed 10 Feb. 2015]

United States (US). 30 October 2014. Department of State. "Burundi Travel Warning." [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

_____. 27 February 2014. "Burundi." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. [Accessed 22 Feb. 2015]

_____. 2014. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Burundi 2014 Crime and Safety Report. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response: Burundi - Anti-Corruption Brigade; Ligue des Droits de l'Homme Iteka.

Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Abuco-Transparency International; Actions des chrétiens pour l'abolition de la torture (ACAT-Burundi); Association burundaise pour la protection des droits humains et des personnes détenues (APRODH); Association des femmes juristes du Burundi (AFJB); Avocats sans frontières Burundi; Bureau de Représentation LDGL Bujumbura; Burundi - Burundi National Police, Independent National Human Rights Commission, Embassy in Ottawa, Ombudsman's Office; CENAP; COSOME; Hadassa Women Development Initiatives; International Bridges to Justice - Équipe Burundi; Observatoire de l'Action Gouvernementale; Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les malversations économiques.

Internet sites, including: Africa Confidential; BBC; Burundi - Independent National Human Rights Commission, Interpol Burundi, Embassy in Ottawa, Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman's Office; Initiative for Peacebuilding; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Observatoire de l'action gouvernementale du Burundi; Radio Bonesha; Small Arms Survey; United Nations - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld.