In Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned by the detention of thousands of people on politically motivated charges and by the targeting human rights and opposition activists, journalists, religious believers, artists, and other perceived critics. Among them are some of the world’s longest imprisoned journalists, such as Muhammad Bekjanov and Yusuf Ruzimurodov, imprisoned for 16 years, and political activists, such as Samandar Kukanov, imprisoned for 23 years. We are particularly disturbed by the detention and mistreatment of human rights defender Elena Urlaeva and the arbitrary extension of the prison sentence of human rights defender Azam Farmonov.
13 May 2015 marked the tenth anniversary of the massacre at Andijan, during which hundreds of largely peaceful protesters were killed indiscriminately by Uzbek government forces. The Uzbek government has steadfastly refused to allow an independent investigation into the killings, but instead persecuted anyone suspected of having witnessed the atrocities or attempting to speak about them publicly.
Uzbekistan has also one of the worst records of non-cooperation with Special Procedures of this Council. It has failed to respond to no fewer than 13 requests for country visits since 2002. This Council should no longer remain silent in the face of Uzbek government repression and defiance of its international obligations and should urgently create a dedicated monitoring mechanism.
The Council has so far failed to bring a meaningful response to repeating patterns of attacks on civilians and other human rights violations in South Sudan. Since mid-December 2013, thousands of civilians have been killed in horrific attacks. Large parts of key towns, including civilian infrastructure such as clinics, hospitals, and schools, have been looted and destroyed. Both sides have continued the use of child soldiers on the frontlines of the conflict. South Sudan’s military and National Security Service have unlawfully detained dozens of civilians without any access to a lawyer or judge, sometimes for many months. Regional and international responses are not inconsistent, but complementary. Addressing a human rights crisis of this magnitude is a shared responsibility of the international community, and the action of the Council is now long overdue. Human Rights Watch repeatedly called for the Council to create a Special Rapporteur on South Sudan with the view achieving effective accountability for past and ongoing crimes.
Finally, the situation in Burundi raises serious concerns and should receive full attention by this Council. Human Rights Watch has documented continuing abuses by police and members of the youth league of the ruling party, an ongoing crackdown on demonstrators and opposition party members and the refusal by the government to allow radio stations to resume their work. Police shot at crowds indiscriminately and severely beat demonstrators and detainees. Scores of people have been killed since the end of April. At a minimum, the Human Rights Council should request OHCHR to play an early warning reporting role, and should demonstrate its readiness to take urgent action in case of further deterioration of the situation. OHCHR should publish regular reports on the human rights situation throughout the country, especially given the absence of Burundian media.
