A/HRC/23/38
requires a parallel social policy to get young people into the labour market, so that
unemployment, which is associated with political tension, does not become a breeding
ground for political exploitation.
61.
In this regard, the Independent Expert was informed of serious incidents in Bouaké,
started by former combatants dissatisfied with their conditions of reintegration and the
assistance provided. On 11 April 2013, about 200 of them reportedly blocked the southern
entrance to the city for several hours. The Government should give due weight to this
serious incident and respond firmly, while at the same time fully recognizing its social
dimension and the potential impact on a newly restored but still fragile security situation,
the aim being to achieve social calm and provide an object lesson in democracy and respect
for human rights. The Independent Expert has received mutually corroborating information
about the disappearance — or kidnapping according to some witnesses — of one of the
leaders of this demonstration. He hopes that this disappearance can be satisfactorily
resolved in a way that will reassure the demonstrators and prevent any taint falling on the
process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, thereby keeping the private
partners so vital to the process on board. The chair of the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration Authority, who is discharging this great responsibility with vision and skill,
should continue to have the necessary means to cope with the challenges he is facing. The
State of Côte d’Ivoire needs 90 billion CFA francs for the reintegration of demobilized
combatants. Furthermore, this process is closely linked with the reform of the security
sector.
62.
The Independent Expert has received reports of attempts at manipulation that could
compromise the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, with former
area commanders allegedly showing bias when selecting beneficiaries. The Independent
Expert believes that the entire programme needs to be under the direct control and
supervision of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Authority. The
Independent Expert has received reports that former area commanders accused of serious
human rights violations have been promoted within the ranks of the army.
63.
The Independent Expert notes that the disarmament process is facing many technical
and political obstacles, including the traceability of weapons in circulation and the lack of a
database on the real situation of former combatants.
B.
National reconciliation and peacebuilding
64.
Several recommendations have been made to Côte d’Ivoire on national
reconciliation, such as incorporating the concept of cultural, ethnic and religious pluralism
into the Constitution, implementing a national reconciliation programme, publishing a
white paper on human rights violations between 2002 and 2011, identifying memory sites
symbolizing the violations committed during the crisis, ensuring the proper functioning of
the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and taking due account of the Ivorian
people’s values of peaceful coexistence in the reconciliation process.
65.
The Independent Expert notes that progress has been made in discharging the
mandate of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission. About 37 local
commissions have been established. With more than 48,000 persons having testified, the
quantitative phase is complete and will be followed by the qualitative phase, during which
decisions will be taken about what period and what sector of the population to cover. The
manner in which the Commission has discharged its mandate in remote areas of the
country, working with all sectors of society, shows awareness of the need to restore the
peaceful coexistence of the Ivorian people and replace multiculturalism with
interculturalism in order to repair the social fabric. Diplomats and civil society
GE.13-15028
13
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents