A/HRC/32/52 I. Introduction 1. This report is submitted pursuant to resolution 29/24 of the Human Rights Council of 3 July 2015, whereby the Council requested the Independent Expert to submit a report at its thirty-first session and his final recommendations at its thirty-second session. The report covers the period from 12 November 2015 to 28 May 2016 and is the outcome of the Independent Expert’s fourth visit to Côte d’Ivoire, which took place from 22 to 28 May 2016. 2. The mission took place a few weeks after the adoption of Security Council resolution 2284 (2016), by which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) for a final period ending on 30 June 2017. As stated in paragraph 15 (d) of that resolution, the Security Council decided that the mandate of UNOCI would include contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire, including through early warning activities and in close coordination with the Independent Expert established by the Human Rights Council. 3. In that context, the visit provided an opportunity for assessing the challenges that will accompany the transition that will follow the withdrawal of UNOCI and, in particular, the extent to which Ivorians have been able to take ownership of the duties involved in the protection and promotion of human rights — duties that they will need to assume once the United Nations operation ends in June 2017. Other objectives of the visit were to continue to gather information on human rights trends in Côte d’Ivoire and to continue discussions with the Ivorian authorities on their capacity-building needs in the field of human rights. 4. During this mission, the Independent Expert was able to meet with several senior officials of Côte d’Ivoire and with national and international stakeholders. Meetings were held with the Prime Minister and other members of the Government, including the Minister of State, the Minister of the Interior and Security, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Human Rights and Civil Liberties, the Minister for the Promotion of Women, Family and Child Protection and the Director of the Office of the Minister for Solidarity, Social Cohesion and Victim Compensation. 5. The Independent Expert met with officials in such strategic organizations as the Independent Electoral Commission, the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Commission for Reconciliation and Compensation of Victims. He also spoke with senior justice officials, including the Prosecutor-General of the Court of Appeals of Abidjan and the Public Prosecutor of the Court of First Instance of Abidjan, who is also in charge of the special investigation unit, and with the President of the Bar Association of Côte d’Ivoire. He also participated in several meetings with representatives of civil society organizations, including NGOs and human rights and victims’ organizations, and held talks with members of the diplomatic community and with officials from United Nations agencies. He visited the Juvenile Observation Centre in Abidjan and travelled to Grand Bassam, where he met with the municipal authorities. 6. The Independent Expert wishes to express his gratitude to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for inviting him to the country and for its candid and sincere cooperation. He also wishes to thank all the people with whom he met in order to gather useful information and to discuss issues relating to his mission. He is very grateful to the officials of UNOCI and the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the valuable logistical support which they provided during his visit. 4 GE.16-10958