Responding to the arrest warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court in Central African Republic against former President François Bozizé
Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, has emphasized the significance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to the arrest warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in the Central African Republic against former President François Bozizé. Daoud stated:
“The issuance of an arrest warrant against a high-level suspect such as François Bozizé is a very encouraging step in the quest for justice for victims of the numerous crimes committed in Central African Republic. However, the Special Criminal Court (SCC) can only fulfill its mandate of investigating and prosecuting those responsible for the numerous atrocities committed in the country if national authorities and all States fully cooperate.
Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa
Amnesty International calls on Guinea Bissau, where François Bozizé currently resides, to arrest him without delay and transfer him to CAR authorities who must promptly bring him before the SCC.
At least 25 arrest warrants have previously been issued by the SCC, but the suspects are still at large. Whether they are still in CAR or in neighboring countries, all should be arrested and brought to the SCC without further delay.”
Background
The Special Criminal Court is a hybrid court established in the Central African Republic since 2018. It is composed of Central African and non-Central African judges and personnel. It was created to investigate, prosecute, and judge the most serious crimes committed since 2003.
On 30 April 2024, the SCC publicly issued an arrest warrant against François Bozizé, on multiple counts of crimes against humanity allegedly committed between February 2009 and March 2013 during his presidency. The Court’s press release confirms that the suspect currently lives in Guinea Bissau.
In 2020 and 2021, Amnesty International published two reports analyzing the challenges facing the SCC. The organization called for increased support for the Court and greater transparency.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
- Indicator: Number of countries with a functioning and independent national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles.
-
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Indicator: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
Analysis
The article addresses the arrest warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in the Central African Republic against former President François Bozizé. The issues highlighted in the article are related to justice, accountability, and human rights violations. Based on this, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:
1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The arrest warrant issued by the SCC is a step towards promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for all. It demonstrates efforts to hold individuals accountable for crimes committed in the Central African Republic. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
The article also mentions the need for national authorities and all states to fully cooperate with the SCC for it to fulfill its mandate. This highlights the importance of strong institutions and international cooperation in achieving justice. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is:
- Indicator: Number of countries with a functioning and independent national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
Although not explicitly mentioned in the article, the issue of gender-based violence can be inferred from the broader context of crimes against humanity and human rights violations. The target under this SDG that can be identified is:
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
The article does not provide specific indicators related to this target. However, considering the nature of crimes against humanity, indicators such as the proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months can be relevant.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | Number of countries with a functioning and independent national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: amnesty.org
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
