Members of the U.N. commission that accused both sides in the conflict in Central African Republic of crimes against humanity urged the United Nations on Wednesday to establish an international court to prosecute perpetrators.

Law professor Philip Alston, a commission member, warned against a proposal being discussed by the U.N. to establish a special criminal court in the country. He said Central African Republic doesn't have judges with the independence and the ability to hold accountable the major political players who need to be prosecuted.

If the U.N. and Central African Republic go ahead with a national court, Alston said, the president and a majority of the judges must be from the international community and it must be well-funded.

Central African Republic, known as CAR, has been rocked by sectarian violence over the past year that has killed at least 5,000 people. U.N. peacekeepers are trying to stabilize the country, and both the Christian militia and Muslim rebels have agreed to put down their arms, but splinter groups of fighters have continued to clash.