A/HRC/RES/23/18 Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Central African Republic, Concerned about the political, security and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, as well as the risk of clashes between communities and religions, Deeply concerned about the human rights violations and acts of violence perpetrated against the civilian population following the events of 24 March 2013, including summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, torture, looting and other serious violations of international human rights law, Recalling that such violence has led to the mass displacement of people, Bearing in mind the establishment of a National Transitional Council and the appointment by this Council of a Head of State to oversee the transition, Bearing in mind also the deployment of the Central African Multinational Force set up by the Economic Community of Central African States in the context of an operation to disarm the militias, train the Central African Armed Forces and secure the electoral process, 1. Welcomes the decisions of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the conclusions of the fourth special summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States, held in N’Djamena on 18 April 2013, and those of the International Contact Group on the Central African Republic at its meeting on 3 May 2013 in Brazzaville; 2. Takes note with interest of the decision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Central African Republic; 3. Condemns all the serious human rights violations and acts of violence perpetrated against the civilian population, including crimes, summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, the use of children by armed groups, torture, looting and other serious violations of international human rights law, as well as the arrests, arbitrary detention and destruction of property carried out by all the forces present; 4. Calls for an immediate halt to all such human rights violations and acts of violence, and for the strict observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Economic Community of Central African States to resolve the Central African crisis, including the decision taken at its special summits in N’Djamena on 3 and 18 April 2013 to set up an institutional transition mechanism in the Central African Republic for a period of up to 18 months; 6. Supports current efforts by the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States to resolve the crisis in the Central African Republic and to bring about a definitive return to constitutional order, peace and security in that country; 7. Encourages the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union, the United Nations and the partners of the Central African Republic in the stabilization process, which led to the adoption of a road map on a transition lasting 18 months, a Government of national unity, a National Transitional Council, a Transition Charter and a Transitional Constitutional Court; 8. Encourages the transitional authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and invites them to organize a free and transparent general election, with a view to creating conditions conducive to a return to constitutional order, to a lasting and inclusive reconciliation of the different components of the Central African population and to the consolidation of peace, while ensuring that women participate fully in the election and reconciliation processes; 2 GE.13-15263

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