Central African Republic (S/PV.7114)
The Security Council met on 20 February 2014 to discuss the situation in the Central African Republic, including attacks on civilians and displaced persons (S/PV.7114).
On 20 February 2014, The Security Council met to discuss the Central African Republic (S/PV.7114). Approximately 2.5 million people, more than half the population, needed immediate humanitarian assistance. Attacks against civilians continued, and the IDP situation continued to be grave, contributing to the urgent funding needs in humanitarian aid. The Council discussed the Secretary-General’s six point plan including rapid reinforcement of the AH and French Troops on the ground; additional deployment of at least 3,000 more troops and police; coordination of the command of all international forces to focus on urgent priorities including containing the violence, protecting civilians, preventing further displacements, creating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and preparing for a UN peacekeeping force as soon as possible; providing African troops that join the UN force with logistical and financial support; providing rapid and tangible support to the Government of CAR to establish a minimum capacity function; calling for the acceleration of political and reconciliation processes to prevent further escalation and end the conflict with the support of the community and religious leaders.
Women, peace, and security issues were not raised in this meeting.
The Security Council missed several opportunities to include women’s protection and participation concerns in the meeting record. In women’s human rights protection, the Council missed the opportunity to incorporate a gender lens in civilian protection and the IDP situation. Specifically, the Council did not include a gender perspective in improving delivery and access to humanitarian aid, basic health services and should have included services for survivors of sexual violence. The Security Council did not reference gender in relation MISCA. They should have worked toward preventing violence against and protecting female civilians and IDPs and ensuring access to services. In women’s participation, the Council missed the opportunity to include women or women’s concerns when calling for a political solution to the conflict. The Council also did not incorporate women’s agency in the reconciliation process.
In relation to the January 2014 MAP, the meeting’s record was inadequate. The MAP called for the deployment of Gender Advisors, Women Protection Advisers, and Child Protection Advisers to focus on violations against women and children, including sexual violence in armed conflict as stated in SCR 2121 (2013); the provision of medical and psychosocial services as per SCR 2127 (2013); the reinforcement of efforts to re-establish justice systems to hold those perpetrators of atrocities accountable. With the exception of a few brief mentions of the justice system, the meeting record did not incorporate any of the MAP suggestions.
The meeting of 20 February took a step back from the last Security Council meeting on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) (S/PV.7098) on 22 January 2014. At the meeting on 22 January 2014, the Council was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; and the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. The meeting record of 22 January included multiple references to WPS issues including protection, sexual and gender-based violence, and women’s leadership.