Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
States Should Protect Civilians, Defend International Law from Challenges to Mine Ban Treaty
NEW YORK, Nov. 30 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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States Should Protect Civilians, Defend International Law from Challenges to Mine Ban Treaty
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The four years since Russia's full-scale invasion have left Ukraine littered with antipersonnel landmines that will endanger civilians for years to come. In that period, Russia's extensive and unlawful use of landmines has caused hundreds of civilian casualties. Despite being a state party to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, Ukraine has also used the weapons, although the extent is unclear.
On December 1,
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NEW YORK, Nov. 30 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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States Should Protect Civilians, Defend International Law from Challenges to Mine Ban Treaty
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The four years since Russia's full-scale invasion have left Ukraine littered with antipersonnel landmines that will endanger civilians for years to come. In that period, Russia's extensive and unlawful use of landmines has caused hundreds of civilian casualties. Despite being a state party to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, Ukraine has also used the weapons, although the extent is unclear.
On December 1,states parties to the Mine Ban Treaty will convene in Geneva for their annual meeting. This year, they will be discussing the dangers landmines pose not only to individual lives but also to international law.
Last July, Ukraine informed the United Nations that it was suspending operation of the Mine Ban Treaty. Ukraine faces enormous security challenges posing an existential threat from Russia. The suspension, however, increases the likelihood of more civilian casualties by paving the way to greater antipersonnel landmine use. It adds to concerns already raised by the harmful, albeit lawful, withdrawal of five states from the Mine Ban Treatythe Baltic states, Finland, and Polandearlier in 2025. Those withdrawals are a dangerous development and could lead to the use of new antipersonnel landmines putting civilians at risk while weakening the norm against the weapons.
Ukraine's suspension, which is unlawful as a matter of public international law, will in addition have grave international legal implications and the potential to erode the authority of international law well into the future.
States parties cannot suspend their obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty. The treaty is designed to protect civilians and thus prohibits use and other activities "under any circumstances." It is during wartime that this and other disarmament treaties are needed most. Ukraine argues that it is allowed to suspend under article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties because it experienced a "fundamental change of circumstances" since it joined the Mine Ban Treaty, but article 62 does not apply during armed conflict.
At their meeting, the other 165 states parties of the Mine Ban Treaty should oppose Ukraine's move. They should individually voice their opposition and agree collectively to language stating that the Mine Ban Treaty does not permit suspensions. Several statesAustria, Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland have already sent objections to the recent suspension to the UN's Office of Legal Affairs, and France has submitted a related communication. Switzerland, for example, has said that "withdrawals or suspensions by states parties engaged in an armed conflict violate international law and undermine work on arms control and disarmament."
States should also publicly oppose the unlawful suspension because of the broader implications for international law. There are at least six reasons why they should not remain silent.
First, other states may unlawfully suspend their obligations under multilateral treaties, including in the areas of international humanitarian and human rights law. In so doing, they would undermine legally binding instruments as a key source of international law.
Second, ignoring Ukraine's suspension sets a precedent for looking the other way when states unlawfully avoid obligations at the time they are most essential. For disarmament and international humanitarian law treaties, that would mean allowing a state party to set aside provisions designed to protect civilians from armed conflict in the middle of an armed conflict. Under human rights law, it could involve allowing a fundamental, non-derogable righta right that can never be waivedto be violated during a public emergency.
Third, suspensions undermine the stigma created by treaties prohibiting certain weapons or certain actions. Stigma is an important tool for influencing the actions of states and other actors outside of a treaty.
Fourth, the move risks deterring states from engaging in the time- and resource-consuming process of negotiating multilateral agreements. International law relies on good faith, trust, and predictable expectations, not just onoften weakenforcement mechanisms. States make reciprocal commitments that limit their own options because they benefit from other states doing the same. If a state fears that others may suddenly suspend their commitments, it may conclude it is too politically, financially, or strategically risky to invest in making a commitment in the first place.
Fifth, states that think they are harmed by another state's suspension of treaty obligations may reciprocate by suspending their own obligations toward that state.
Sixth, improper invocation of suspension mechanisms under the Vienna Convention, the basis for Ukraine's fundamental change of circumstances argument, can blur the line between what is lawful and not. It could encourage states to use the cover of technical legal arguments to avoid respecting their obligations.
Mine Ban Treaty states parties should unequivocally condemn Russia's widespread use of antipersonnel landmines in violation of international humanitarian law and denounce the recent withdrawals of EU member states that damage disarmament norms.
While recognizing Ukraine's significant security challenges, states should also challenge Ukraine's decision, which will erode the legitimacy and power of international law. Treaties should be viewed as effective and reliable frameworks for conduct. If states go unopposed in choosing when and where they respect the law, trust in the systemand in its ability to constrain abuseswill collapse.
At the Mine Ban Treaty Meeting of States Parties, 165 states parties have the opportunity to publicly and unequivocally oppose Ukraine's suspension and adopt a clear statement that the Mine Ban Treaty does not permit suspensions by any state party. But it is not just an opportunity. For those committed to protecting international law, it should be an imperative.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/30/states-should-protect-civilians-defend-international-law-from-challenges-to-mine
Gabby Giffords statement on mass shooting in Stockton, CA
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 [Category: Political] -- Giffords, an organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence, posted the following news release:
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Gabby Giffords statement on mass shooting in Stockton, CA
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WASHINGTON GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement on the mass shooting that occurred at a children's birthday party in Stockton, CA. It is being reported that 4 people were killed and 10 people were injured, including children.
"This is horrific. A children's birthday party on a holiday
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 [Category: Political] -- Giffords, an organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence, posted the following news release:
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Gabby Giffords statement on mass shooting in Stockton, CA
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WASHINGTON GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement on the mass shooting that occurred at a children's birthday party in Stockton, CA. It is being reported that 4 people were killed and 10 people were injured, including children.
"This is horrific. A children's birthday party on a holidayweekend turned into a scene of a mass shooting - turning a celebration into a nightmare. My heart goes out to the families of those killed, the injured, and the survivors," said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. "While we await for more information on the shooting, what is painfully obvious is that we need our federal leaders to act to stop gun violence. Kids shouldn't have to fear for their lives when celebrating their birthdays."
MEDIA REQUESTS
Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
Contact
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Original text here: https://giffords.org/press-release/2025/11/gabby-giffords-statement-on-mass-shooting-in-stockton-ca/
WCS and ICCN Welcome CITES Decision to Prohibit the International Trade of Endangered Okapi
BRONX, New York, Nov. 29 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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WCS and ICCN Welcome CITES Decision to Prohibit the International Trade of Endangered Okapi
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) commends today's decision by Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to list the endangered okapi ( Okapia johnstoni ) on Appendix I.
This highest level of international
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BRONX, New York, Nov. 29 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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WCS and ICCN Welcome CITES Decision to Prohibit the International Trade of Endangered Okapi
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) commends today's decision by Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to list the endangered okapi ( Okapia johnstoni ) on Appendix I.
This highest level of internationalprotection will prohibit all international commercial trade in okapi or their parts, as well as sub-products. The species is already fully protected as an endemic species under national law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the only country where it is found.
"The adoption of this Appendix I listing is a critical step for protecting one of the world's most distinctive and imperiled mammals," said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy. "The okapi's extremely limited, and shrinking range, declining population, and escalating threats from commercial hunting, habitat loss, and illegal trade make it exceptionally vulnerable. We commend the leadership of the DRC Government for advancing this proposal and thank all Parties that supported it. Today's decision will help ensure that okapis are safeguarded for generations to come."
Dr. Jean Paul Kibambe, WCS DRC Country Director, said:
"This decision sends a powerful message of support to the people and protected area authorities of the DRC who have worked for decades to safeguard the okapi. Strengthening international protections will help reinforce national efforts to stop trafficking, secure the forests that sustain okapi and local communities, and ensure that this iconic species continues to thrive in its only homeland."
Said Yves Milan Ngangay, General Director of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation: "For the people of the Ituri Forest, the okapi is more than a national symbolit is part of their cultural identity. This Appendix I listing will help shield the species from international trafficking networks and supports the tireless work of Congolese conservationists and local communities. Strict urgent measures have been taken to strengthen management effectiveness as well as transnational joint interventions. Congratulations for the new dynamic in place at CITES Coordinating Department of ICCN."
The okapithe giraffe's only living relativeinhabits the forests of northeastern DRC. Its Endangered status on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, combined with increasing pressures from poaching and habitat degradation, underscores the urgency of stronger international protections. Appendix I listing will help close enforcement gaps, strengthen monitoring of cross-border trade, and support national conservation actions.
Data from ICCN and partners confirm that okapi persist primarily in key strongholds, including the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) and Lomami National Park. WCS, and other partners like Wildlife Conservation Global (WCG), have for more than 30 years with ICCN to conserve okapi. ICCN and WCS co-manage the 13,726-square-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage-designated OWR, home to what is believed to be the largest okapi population on Earth, alongside Indigenous Mbuti and Efe communities.
Okapi are also found in Maiko National Park, several other protected areas and some community forests located within its distribution range in DRC.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25673/WCS-and-ICCN-Welcome-CITES-Decision-to-Prohibit-the-International-Trade-of-Endangered-Okapi.aspx
CITES CoP20 Decision Allows International Trade in Saiga Horn, Strongly Opposed by WCS
BRONX, New York, Nov. 29 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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CITES CoP20 Decision Allows International Trade in Saiga Horn, Strongly Opposed by WCS
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, No v. 28, 2025 - Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) today voted to allow international commercial trade in saiga horn from Kazakhstan under newly established quotasa move strongly opposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The original proposal to lift the zero-export quota for
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 29 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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CITES CoP20 Decision Allows International Trade in Saiga Horn, Strongly Opposed by WCS
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, No v. 28, 2025 - Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) today voted to allow international commercial trade in saiga horn from Kazakhstan under newly established quotasa move strongly opposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The original proposal to lift the zero-export quota forwild Saiga tatarica was adopted with amendments to limit exports to 10,000 kilograms/just over 22,000 pounds per year for three years from Kazakhstan only; the quota will revert to zero after that and will be discussed at the next meeting.
WCS warned that these quotasequivalent to at least 25,000 male saiga per yearpose a risk to the species. While presented as time-bound and tightly controlled, the reopening of any commercial trade is likely to increase consumer demand, strain enforcement systems, promote poaching and illegal trade, and threaten the long-term survival of the endangered saiga population of Mongolia.
WCS emphasized that such large-scale quotas risk increasing demand in Asian markets, straining enforcement efforts and increasing illegal trade.
Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy, said:
"The recovery of the saiga in Kazakhstan is a welcome conservation success storybut it is to soon to justify reopening international commercial trade. The systems required to prevent laundering and illegal tradetraceability, stockpile control, transparent enforcementare simply not in place. The measures adopted by CITES Parties do not provide sufficient safeguards. Allowing horn exports now will give a signal in Asian markets that saiga horn is acceptable, and will increase demand, complicate enforcement, and endanger smaller populations across the species' range. CITES will have to re-consider this at the next CoP, and we hope we do not then have to report increased poaching and a devastating outcome for saiga in Mongolia and other range states."
Khash-Erdene Bayarsaikhan, Senior Communications and Partnerships Officer for WCS Mongolia, said:
"We strongly oppose allowing the trade of saiga horn under any quota. Authorizing the export of tens of thousands of horns each year sends exactly the wrong message at exactly the wrong time. Mongolia's saiga remain a relatively small population, confined to a limited range and highly vulnerable to illegal hunting. Allowing legal trade elsewhere could drive up demand, add further enforcement challengesespecially where stockpiling systems are not in placeand place additional pressure on these fragile populations."
Dr. Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar, Senior Scientist with WCS Mongolia, said:
"Mongolia's saiga is a unique and irreplaceable subpopulation found nowhere else. Although numbers have grown, it remains extremely vulnerable. Without proper preparedness and strong safeguards in place, any renewed demand for saiga horn risks undermining decades of conservation progress in Mongolia."
The CITES debate comes at a pivotal moment. The IUCN Red List recently reclassified the saiga antelope from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened across its range, reflecting a dramatic recovery driven by improved law enforcement, habitat protection, and long-term partnerships with conservation organizations and donors.
Yet experts warn that the species has a long history of extreme boom-and-bust cycles, making a precautionary approach essential. Demand for saiga horn in traditional Asian medicine remains strong, and reopening trade risks increasing demand and reigniting incentives for poaching and creating new laundering opportunities. Enforcement officers currently struggle to distinguish legal from illegal horns, and without a robust, transparent traceability system across all range and consumer states, the risk of illegal trade entering legal markets remains high.
Smaller saiga populations outside Kazakhstan face challenges. In Mongolia, the distinct species ( Saiga borealis ) has rebounded to more than 25,000 individuals thanks to extensive collaboration among government agencies, local communities, WCS Mongolia, and other partners. However, the species remains geographically restricted and highly susceptible to climate extremes, disease, infrastructure expansion, and renewed poaching pressure.
WCS Mongolia is supporting the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in bringing law-enforcement agencies together to strengthen preventive action and address environmental crime, including illegal wildlife trade. The team also provides technical support to help the Ministry align with international conventions. In previous years, WCS Mongolia conducted long-term research on saiga populations, as well as studies on local trade dynamics and hunting risks with key partners. This scientific evidence continues to inform and strengthen Mongolia's national response. Across the region, improving stockpile management, deepening cross-border cooperation, and dismantling trafficking networks remain essential components of safeguarding the species' recovery.
More than 3,000 participants from 185 countries have gathered in Samarkand for CITES CoP20, where governments are considering dozens of proposals aimed at preventing international trade from threatening the survival of species in the wild.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25672/CITES-CoP20-Decision-Allows-International-Trade-in-Saiga-Horn-Strongly-Opposed-by-WCS.aspx
CHIPS Ahoy! Issue 4
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 29 [Category: Economics] -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, posted the following news release:
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CHIPS Ahoy! Issue 4
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Welcome to the fourth edition of CHIPS Ahoy! This issue was written by Jahari Henry, Policy Matters Summer 2025 intern. This month, we explore how Ohioand the nationare building the next generation of high-tech talent through innovative workforce development and education initiatives.
The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, was designed to bolster domestic semiconductor production and reduce America's reliance on foreign
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 29 [Category: Economics] -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, posted the following news release:
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CHIPS Ahoy! Issue 4
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Welcome to the fourth edition of CHIPS Ahoy! This issue was written by Jahari Henry, Policy Matters Summer 2025 intern. This month, we explore how Ohioand the nationare building the next generation of high-tech talent through innovative workforce development and education initiatives.
The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, was designed to bolster domestic semiconductor production and reduce America's reliance on foreignsupply chains. The legislation allocated $13 billion specifically dedicated to education and workforce development. These funds aim to ensure that the U.S can build and sustain a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the growing demands of the semiconductor industry.
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) estimates that the CHIPS Act could add 115,000 jobs nationwide before the end of the decade but education and training aren't keeping up with demand: SIA also estimates the industry could face a shortfall of 67,000 skilled workers. This gap underscores the urgent need for targeted educational strategies to align talent supply with industry demand.
To meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the semiconductor sector, Ohio has taken a proactive and collaborative approach, engaging educational institutions, industry leaders, and government agencies in coordinated efforts to create a homegrown talent pipeline. One of the most visible examples is Intel's Semi-Conductor Education Research Program, which will fund collaboration among Ohio colleges and universities as they develop new curricula, training programs, and research initiatives to grow the workforce for the semiconductor industry in Ohio.
The state has also launched initiatives like the Ohio Semiconductor Collaboration Network, which brings together regional universities and community colleges to align course offerings with industry needs and accelerate credentialing programs. Investments in K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education have also expanded, with several districts piloting career tech pathways that introduce students to microelectronics as early as middle school.
Other states have their own strategies for leveraging CHIPS Act funding and public-private partnerships. Arizona has invested $15 million in the Future48 workforce accelerator, in collaboration with Maricopa Community Colleges, to train students for jobs in the state's growing advanced manufacturing industry. Idaho has paired industry investment from Micron with state-led career grants and workforce development fundsalso incorporating wraparound supports like child care. Texas has taken a broad-scale, state-backed approach, allocating over $600 million to fund post-secondary research and development programs. New York has layered federal grants, cleanroom lab construction, and large-scale K-12 STEM investments to prepare students at all levels. Notably, this is being done by unionized workers with the American Federation of Teachers : $1.72 million was granted to train educators on administering instruction for semiconductor careers.
Like Texas, Ohio has embraced a statewide coordination model that links community colleges, public universities, and major industry partners like Intel. And like New York, Ohio has invested in K-12 career pathways and STEM education while building industry-informed curricula. Ohio would do well to consider Idaho's investment in wraparound supports like housing and childcarecritical components for long-term workforce retention and equity.
But retention depends on more than just training. It would be short-sighted to prepare workers for semiconductor careers without ensuring they can afford to live, raise families, and thrive here. Intel has publicly committed to creating jobs with average salaries around $135,000 per year at its Ohio facilities, albeit through a mix of positions including high-paying white collar roles.
Wages alone, however, aren't enough. The influx of talent will increase pressure on local housing markets, especially in Licking and Franklin Counties. A 2022 study found that Licking County "only has 34 affordable units for every 100 low-rent households." Local, state, and business leaders must address the issue of housing if we want Ohio to reap the maximum benefits of this investment.
Reliable and affordable child care is another critical factor for those raising or starting families. Intel had pledged support for on-site child care and family services at its Ohio locations when they released their community impact report in November of 2024. Under the Trump administration, however, it's unclear whether and how the corporation will be held accountable for following through on those promises.
Even less clear is whether the corporation will do more than pay lip service to equity, inclusion, and other Good Jobs Principles, for example ensuring that K-12 and community college programs are accessible to students from historically underrepresented communities and that every Ohioan has a pathway into the semiconductor workforce. The Ohio CHIPS Coalition will be working to make sure those promises become reality.
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Original text here: https://policymattersohio.org/news/2025/11/29/chips-ahoy-4th-edition/
WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20
BRONX, New York, Nov. 28 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 - The following statement was issued today from CITES CoP20, celebrating the sweeping and historic adoption of new international trade protections for sharks and rays.
Said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark and Ray Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society:
"This is a landmark victory, and it belongs to the Parties who championed
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 28 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 - The following statement was issued today from CITES CoP20, celebrating the sweeping and historic adoption of new international trade protections for sharks and rays.
Said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark and Ray Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society:
"This is a landmark victory, and it belongs to the Parties who championedthese protections. Countries across Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Asia came together in a powerful show of leadership and solidarity, passing every shark and ray proposal tabled for the CoP covering over 70 species. These decisions could not be more urgent: sharks and rays are the second most imperiled group of species on the planet, and many are running out of time. These animals are vital to the health and balance of our oceans, shaping entire marine ecosystems integrity and underpinning cultural heritage for Indigenous Peoples and local communities all over the world. Today's votes give them a real chance at recovery, and now we must carry this momentum through the final plenary vote and into swift implementation. The world chose action over extinction today and recognized sharks as essential marine wildlife, and these decisions offer real hope for the future of our oceans. We cannot let up now."
Proposals up for consideration for Parties at CoP20, co-sponsored by more than 50 governments, centered some of the most imperiled shark and ray species in the world and represent the most ambitious and comprehensive suite of shark and ray protections ever brought to the convention. All proposed protections passed, including:
* Appendix I (full international commercial trade ban) for:
* Oceanic whitetip sharks
* Manta and devil rays
* Whale sharks
* Zero export quotas (suspension of all exports of wild-caught specimens) for:
* Wedgefish and giant guitarfish
* Appendix II (regulated trade requiring permits and non-detriment findings) for:
* Gulper sharks
* Smoothhound sharks and the tope shark
Together, these listings close major loopholes in the international market for fins, gill plates, meat, and other products - longstanding pressures that have accelerated population collapse across our ocean.
Globally, more than 37% of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Pelagic sharks have declined by over 70% in just 50 years, and reef sharks are now functionally extinct on one in five coral reefs surveyed worldwide. CITES remains the only global agreement with the legal authority to restrict international trade driving these declines. For many species already in freefall, these landmark decisions at CoP20 may mean the difference between recovery and extinction.
More than 3,000 have gathered in Samarkand for CITES CoP20, The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, as 185 countries consider proposals to prevent trade from threatening the survival of wild species.
Watch this video explaining the shark and ray issues at CoP20
Listen to this WCS Wild Audio podcast on the shark and ray issues
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25665/WCS-Celebrates-Historic-and-Sweeping-Trade-Protections-for-Sharks-and-Rays-Adopted-at-CITES-CoP20.aspx
Central African Republic: Concerns Over Crucial Election
NEW YORK, Nov. 28 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Central African Republic: Concerns Over Crucial Election
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(Nairobi) - Concerns about irregularities, political interference, and security pressures risk putting the credibility and inclusiveness of key elections in the Central African Republic into question, Human Rights Watch said today. The vote, scheduled for December 28, 2025, will include presidential and parliamentary elections, but also municipal elections for the first time in decades.
"The Central African Republic election will shape
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 28 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Central African Republic: Concerns Over Crucial Election
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(Nairobi) - Concerns about irregularities, political interference, and security pressures risk putting the credibility and inclusiveness of key elections in the Central African Republic into question, Human Rights Watch said today. The vote, scheduled for December 28, 2025, will include presidential and parliamentary elections, but also municipal elections for the first time in decades.
"The Central African Republic election will shapethe country's political trajectory for years to come," said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Despite tangible progress to establish peace, obstructions to opposition participation, administrative dysfunction, and concerns about a return to repression could disenfranchise large segments of the population.
The elections come after the highly controversial 2023 constitutional referendum, which removed presidential term limits and effectively opened the door for President Faustin-Archange Touadera to remain in power indefinitely. The official campaign period is slated to start on December 13.
Two of the country's most prominent political figures, former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, were barred from entering the race until November 14, when the Constitutional Council decided to allow them to run as candidates for president. This aligned with an apparent pattern of administrative maneuvering that has disproportionately impeded opposition politicians while favoring the ruling United Hearts Party (known by its French acronym, MCU), Human Rights Watch said.
The two politicians are widely viewed as the only credible challengers to Touadera. "We have effectively been delayed while the MCU has been mobilizing," Dologuele told Human Rights Watch. Their late admission to the race raises questions about whether voters have been given a genuine choice, Human Rights Watch said.
These developments come amid growing doubts about whether the National Election Authority is prepared to run the election. Supply-chain failures, incomplete voter lists, and insufficiently trained staff for polling places, particularly outside Bangui, the capital, are potential problems.
In Bangui, civil society activists have raised concerns over whether many of the estimated 6,700 polling places will be able to open on time, if at all. Rural voters, already hampered by insecurity and limited transportation, could find themselves effectively excluded. The lack of readiness not only undermines confidence in the process but also raises concerns that turnout figures may become deeply skewed toward the capital.
The government has sought to bolster confidence in elections by signing a series of peace accords with various armed groups. These accords, which skirt around accountability for human rights abuses and potential war crimes committed in the past, have nonetheless created conditions for stability not seen in years. However, several civil society activists, journalists, UN officials, and diplomats question the durability of these peace deals including an agreement signed on November 19 with the Patriotic Movement for the Central African Republic.
Over the past decade, numerous declarations of peace quickly fell apart amid unmet promises of disarmament, political inclusion, or resource sharing. One journalist told Human Rights Watch that, "Armed groups have been bought off to ensure the elections occur. Disarmament has become a racket.... [W]e will most likely see these groups resume attacks once the money runs out... [until] the next round of elections."
Without genuine disarmament efforts, the current agreements will serve more as symbolic gestures reinforcing impunity than as mechanisms for lasting stability, Human Rights Watch said.
The unequal political environment has prompted many opposition parties to call for a full boycott of the elections. Leaders of Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution, an opposition coalition, told Human Rights Watch that they are concerned about the obstruction of candidates, the election authority's administrative deficiencies, and the government monopoly over media and state resources.
This boycott, and the delays experienced by Dologuele and Dondra, will most likely pave the way for a parliament dominated by the current governing party. A legislature without meaningful opposition oversight risks compromising already weak institutions, Human Rights Watch said. "We need checks on the executive," one politician told Human Rights Watch. "My fear is that these elections, already skewed, are a test of the principles of democratic accountability."
There are also concerns around online xenophobic rhetoric. Dologuele had to give up his French nationality to run for the presidency as individuals in high offices are not allowed to hold citizenship of another country. Nonetheless, some groups associated with the governing party are circulating statements online about "who is a real Central African," targeting the opposition. Online attacks against opponents of the 2023 constitutional referendum ramped up before that vote.
Dondra told Human Rights Watch that in addition to other constraints, two of his brothers were arrested, and one remains in custody without charge, allegedly for politically motivated reasons.
The elections comes amid a planned reduction of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The mission, which has a mandate to protect civilians and monitor human rights abuses, alongside supporting elections, is expected to scale down its presence partly due to the budget constraints across UN peacekeeping and a desire from some member states to see responsibility transferred to national authorities.
A diminished UN footprint could leave communities, particularly those in conflict-affected regions, exposed to militia coercion and retaliation if the peace accords do not hold. Some diplomats in Bangui told Human Rights Watch that the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa and the International Organization of the Francophonie, which may monitor elections, have not been confirmed one month before the vote and will most likely be unable to conduct any monitoring outside of Bangui.
Despite the concerns, civil society activists and journalists describe some improvements. "Things are better than they were a few years ago, the repression has let up," one journalist told Human Rights Watch. "However, we must remain vigilant. Once it solidifies full control over the parliament and municipal offices, the MCU will control how we discuss government policy, security and development." The authorities should ensure that journalists and activists can continue to do their work freely without fear of reprisals or repression, Human Rights Watch said.
One month out, the government should remove all barriers to opposition participation and guarantee equal access to campaigning and to the media. The authorities should release individuals detained without credible legal basis, including Dondra's brother. International partners should monitor the elections for conformity to international standards, and reductions in peacekeeping forces should be reconsidered if armed groups attack civilians again.
"The Central African Republic stands at crossroads, and credible elections cannot occur when legitimate concerns are unaddressed," Mudge said. "The country's path toward stability depends on inclusive and competitive political processes that reflect the will of all communities, not only those with access to power."
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/28/central-african-republic-concerns-over-crucial-election
