A/HRC/32/52
Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire and for implementing the law on the protection of
human rights defenders, which will be crucial to ensure that civil society organizations are
able to play their role fully.
The establishment of the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Cohesion and Victim
Compensation is a major step towards achieving national reconciliation. The Ministry will
be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the National Commission for
Reconciliation and Compensation of Victims and the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation
Commission. Efforts are being made to identify the victims of crises in Côte d’Ivoire with a
view to providing them with compensation and to process criminal justice cases relating to
the post-electoral crisis of 2010. The Ivorian authorities plan to have completed the
processing of those cases by the end of 2016. The Independent Expert notes with
appreciation the commitment of the judicial authorities to ensuring equitable justice for all
victims of the crises that have occurred in the country since 1990.
The Independent Expert emphasizes that the fight against impunity will be essential
in order to prevent intercommunal violence of the sort that occurred in March in the vicinity
of Bouna which resulted in a number of deaths. In this case, it is noteworthy that the chief
of the dozo brotherhood in Bouna was immediately arrested and charged with murder and
incitement to murder. The prosecution, while respecting due process, of those responsible
for crimes committed during the unrest can only serve to further efforts to achieve national
reconciliation.
The Independent Expert noted an improvement in conditions at the Juvenile
Observation Centre sited within the Abidjan Detention and Correctional Centre which was
brought about through concerted advocacy in favour of children in conflict with the law and
increased awareness of their vulnerability and their inalienable right to education and
decent living conditions. Nevertheless, the ideal course of action would be to establish a
juvenile observation centre that is in keeping with the standards of a rehabilitation
institution and that is located outside of the detention centre.
Côte d’Ivoire still has numerous challenges to address. The benefits of economic
growth are not yet being felt by ordinary citizens, and the security situation, although
improved, remains precarious owing to persistent terrorist threats in the region. The
intercommunal violence at Bouna highlights the importance of successfully completing the
disarmament process in the country. Lastly, the transition that will follow the impending
departure of UNOCI will present a further challenge; meeting that challenge will call for
concrete measures to ensure greater ownership by national actors of their duty to protect
and promote human rights.
2
GE.16-10958
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