A/HRC/23/38
Government to improve implementation at the national level of rights guaranteed at the
international level.
55.
In this regard, implementing the recommendation to issue a standing invitation to
the Human Rights Council special procedures mandate holders to visit Côte d’Ivoire could
send a strong signal about the Government’s efforts to promote human rights.
7.
Reform of the security sector
56.
With regard to security, it was recommended that Côte d’Ivoire should quickly
disarm anyone who is not part of the defence and security forces, exclude from those forces
anyone responsible for human rights violations, promote human rights training and ensure
the punishment of proven human rights violations and the success of the disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration process.
57.
The Independent Expert recalls that reform of the security sector is not only a
precondition for meeting all political, economic and social challenges, but will also be a
decisive factor in the renewal of the social contract, which has been profoundly weakened
by years of social fragmentation during the protracted crisis. Giving full weight to the
significant fact that the FRCI is a combined force made up of two former enemy armies, the
National Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire and the Forces Nouvelles, the Government should
vigorously pursue its efforts to fuse it into a single military entity, notably by thoughtfully
and proactively including all ethnic groups, both in recruitment and in promotion.
58.
The clarification and sharing of responsibilities among the police and the
gendarmerie in matters of public security, and the Armed Forces in matters of defence,
must be done on a national basis. In this context, denying legal status to non-legitimate
actors and groups, such as the dozos, in matters of security is an important aspect of
building security credibility with the general public. The Government should also complete
the process of getting the FRCI into barracks.
59.
The ultimate goal — a solid guarantee of a peaceful society — is republican,
democratic and non-partisan armed forces and security forces that will serve the Ivorian
people exclusively. It is critical that politicians show a sense of political ethics and realize
what a serious impact of any attempt to exploit the security forces for partisan purposes
would have. The Independent Expert notes with interest and hope, however, the farsightedness of the chief of staff’s moves to provide human rights training to the Armed
Forces. One notable example is the issuance of certificates by the chief of staff and the
director of the UNOCI Human Rights Division to the Ivorian soldiers in the International
Support Mission to Mali. The Independent Expert suggested that this human rights training
should be supplemented with training in intercultural and interreligious dialogue,
particularly in the context of the growing fragmentation and ethnic and religious intolerance
in the Sahel-Sahara region. Enrolment in the army and security forces should be an
opportunity for soldiers with a background in the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Côte
d’Ivoire to learn about interculturality and multiculturalism. In this regard, the Independent
Expert offers to share his own experience as former director of intercultural and
interreligious dialogue at UNESCO.
60.
On 8 August 2012, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire established the Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration Authority to reintegrate approximately 65,000 former
combatants. The capacity of the public sector to absorb these former combatants is limited,
however. They will be recruited into security-related services, namely water and forest
services, customs and prison services. The vast majority should be absorbed by the private
sector, and the most highly qualified directed into technical field. There is a risk, therefore,
that barely contained frustrations might find an outlet in desperate acts that undermine
security. The Independent Expert points out that the reintegration of former combatants
12
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