At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International voiced serious concerns about the state of human rights in Burundi. In a statement delivered by Peter Dankwa of the Humanist Association of Ghana, they called for immediate action to address violations, particularly regarding women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights, and freedom of expression. The intervention followed a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Burundi, which documented widespread human rights abuses.
Dankwa’s statement highlighted the worrying use of religion to justify discriminatory laws and rhetoric in the country. The statement condemned the instrumentalization of Christianity in shaping state policies that curtail the rights of marginalized communities, particularly LGBTI+ individuals. One of the most egregious examples cited was the dehumanizing language used by President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who called for the stoning of LGBTI+ people.
Peter Dankwa delivers the statement by video
In addition to targeting LGBTI+ individuals, Burundi has seen a renewed crackdown on so-called “cohabitation laws”, which criminalize informal living arrangements between unmarried couples. Dankwa reported that this has resulted in the forced displacement of at least 900 women and 3,600 children from their homes, primarily in the north of the country. This policy has been linked to a broader governmental push for moral purity, which has seen an increase in human rights violations perpetrated by state authorities.
Finally, Dankwa concluded his statement by urging the Special Rapporteur to address the role of religious fundamentalism in Burundi’s legal system. He questioned how the international community can ensure that religious ideologies do not shape laws that violate human rights, especially in a country facing political instability and a multidimensional humanitarian crisis.
Delivery of this statement followed the signing of a joint letter alongside over 35 other Non-Governmental Organizations which raised some of the same issues, and called for the exetention of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
Featured photo by aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash
Together we can do even more to promote humanist values and defend human rights. Join Humanists International as a Member Organization or become an individual supporter in your own right.