officials on Monday condemned continued human rights abuses in the Central African Republic (CAR) and called for a stronger response to prevent further human suffering. Ban "strongly condemned continued and widespread violations and abuses of human rights perpetrated by all actors, and stressed that the perpetrators should be held accountable and brought to justice," in a statement delivered by Michael Moller, the acting Director-General of the U.N. Office in Geneva, during the special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the violations as "a crisis of epic proportions," in his statement, and said the situation requires immediate and concerted action, with public service institutions having collapsed, security forces having disintegrated, and fear spreading across the country. The 47-member Council demanded an immediate halt to all human rights violations and abuses and acts of violence by all parties, as well as the restoration of rule of law in the country.
