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LETTER
ADDRESSED TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL BY BURUNDIAN WOMEN THROUGH CAFOB.
WE, BURUNDIAN WOMEN, ARE VERY HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
DEBATE ORGANIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ON "WOMEN, PEACE AND
SECURITY" WHICH IS TAKING PLACE IN NEW YORK ON 24th OCTOBER 2000.
AS YOU MIGHT BE AWARE, WE ARE VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE AND SECURITY BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY IS
WITHNESSING A BLOODING WAR FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF BURUNDIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND
KILLINGS ARE STILL GOING ON, DAY AFTER DAY, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE REPORTED KILLED.
THIS IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN THE PROVINCES OF CANKUZO (EAST OF THE COUNTRY), RUTANA, MAKAMBA AND BURURI (IN THE SOUTH),
GITEGA (IN THE CENTER) AND THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE CAPITAL BUJUMBURA.
FOLLOWING THE FIGHTINGS, PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THEIR PROPERTIES AND LIVE WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE. AMONG
THEM, THE MAJORITY ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN A TOTAL INSECURITY.
WE, BURUNDIAN WOMEN, ARE VERY SAD AND TIRED ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND WE URGE THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO DO WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE TO FORCE
BELLIGERANTS TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUS ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.
WHEN THE NEGOCIATIONS PARTIES SIGNED THE PEACE AGREEMENTS ON THE 28th AUGUST 2000 IN ARUSHA, WOMEN
TOGETHER WITH OTHER BURUNDIANS WERE HOPING THAT THE SITUATION WAS GOING TO IMPROVE, BUT WHAT A
DISAPPOINTMENT !!!
WE, BURUNDIAN WOMEN, REGOGNIZE OURSELVES IN THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY
COUNCIL, ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL ON MARCH 8th, 2000.
SINCE THE CRISIS BROKE OUT IN OUR COUNTRY, WE HAVE
BEEN PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PEACE KEEPING AND
PEACE BUILDING, YET WE ARE UNDER REPRESENTED IN DECISION MAKING WITH REGARD TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION. NOW, WE ARE PREPARING TO PLAY A GREAT ROLE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, ONCE THE CEASEFIRE IS REACHED.
SO, WE ARE SEEKING SUPPORT :
1) TO REACH THE IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE
2) TO BE REPRESENTED IN ALL IMPLEMETATION OF PEACE AGREEMENT AND POWER STRUCUTURES.
3) TO ENSURE THAT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE REACH THE REAL NEEDY PEOPLE
4) TO BE EMPOWERED WITH MECANISIMS FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION.
5) TO RECOGNIZE WAR CRIMES SUCH AS RAPE, FORCED PROSTITUTION AND OTHER SEXUAL VIOLENCES AS CRIMES
AGAINST HUMANITY AND PUT IN PLACE SPECIAL PUNISHMENTS.
WE, BURUNDIAN WOMEN, REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT AND ARE
DETERMINED TO DENOUNCE ANY ATTITUDE, MANOEUVRE OR ANY OTHER ACT THAT WOULD
COMPROMIZE THE CHANCES OF PEACE IN OUR COUNTRY.
BUJUMBURA, OCTOBER 23rd, 2000
FOR THE UMBRELLA OF 40 WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS,
CAFOB.
CATHERINE MABOBORI,
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE.