Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:  Rupert Colville
Location:     Geneva
Date:  15 January 2016

(1) Burundi

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has just issued a statement warning that deeply worrying new trends are emerging in Burundi, including cases of sexual violence by security forces and a sharp increase in enforced disappearances and torture cases. He is also calling for an urgent investigation into the events that took place in Bujumbura on 11-12 December, including the reported existence of at least nine mass graves.

To read the full statement in English and French, please visit:
For the English version: http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2016/01/alarming-new-patterns-violations-emerging-burundi-zeid
For the French version: http://www.ohchr.org/fr/press-releases/2016/01/alarming-new-patterns-violations-emerging-burundi-zeid

(2) Yemen

This time last week, as you may recall, the High Commissioner issued a statement after he learned that his Representative in Yemen was apparently no longer welcome in the country. As many of you are probably aware, the Government of Yemen subsequently revised its position, and he will now be continuing as before. We warmly welcome this decision by the Government, as well as their commitment to continue to cooperate fully with the United Nations.

ENDS

For more information or media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org ) or Cécile Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)

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