A/HRC/19/72 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 9 January 2012 English Original: French Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire, Doudou Diène Summary The present report is based on two visits by the independent expert to Côte d’Ivoire, from 14 to 25 November and from 7 to 13 December 2011, and is intended to give an overview of the human rights situation in Côte d’Ivoire and related institutional issues as of 26 December 2011. Since President Alassane Ouattara was sworn into office, the security situation has gradually improved. Nevertheless Côte d’Ivoire has been traumatized by the many crises it has suffered in the past decade and is still recovering. In this context, the holding on 11 December 2011 of legislative elections judged by all observers to have been well organized from a technical point of view, despite the polarization stemming from the handing over of former president Laurent Gbagbo to the International Criminal Court on 30 November 2011 and the boycott of the elections by his party, was an important step in the country’s return to normal. Yet many challenges remain. Some are linked to deep-rooted causes that pre-date the post-election crisis, including the link between access to land and tensions between communities, especially in the country’s western part. The challenges include, among others, restoring security throughout the country and along its borders, reforming the security sector, restoring the rule of law and justice, combating impunity, promoting reconciliation, strengthening social cohesion and the ability to live together, restoring the State’s sovereignty and re-establishing its services countrywide, reviving the economy, reducing poverty, and ensuring the protection/return/reintegration of displaced and refugee populations. In this context the independent expert also wishes to highlight the most significant human rights violations brought to his attention, such as violations of the right to life, acts of torture, degrading and inhuman treatment, arbitrary arrests, rapes, violations of freedom of expression, racketeering and extortion, attacks and violent acts against religious buildings and leaders, and violations of the right to education, health and food. Intercommunity tensions persist in the country’s western part and require swift steps by the Government to facilitate peaceful coexistence among communities and GE.12-10060 (E) 220212 230212