A/HRC/23/38 I. Introduction 1. This report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 20/19, whereby the Council renewed the Independent Expert’s mandate for one year and invited him to present his recommendations at its twenty-third session. 2. This report reviews the numerous recommendations made to Côte d’Ivoire and the international community by the United Nations Security Council, the Human Rights Council and the 2011 international commission of inquiry, as well as the Independent Expert’s previous recommendations. It presents a factual update based on the Independent Expert’s fourth visit to Côte d’Ivoire from 28 April to 4 May 2013, and also covers the period between October 2012 and May 2013. This report is based on information collected from Government authorities, United Nations agencies, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and detainees, and on the recommendations made in the Independent Expert’s previous report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/22/66). It also contains recommendations, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 20/19. 3. The Independent Expert wishes to express his gratitude to the Ivorian Government, which facilitated his stay in the country and his meetings with national and local authorities. He met the Prime Minister; the Minister of Economy and Finance; the Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Public Freedoms; the Minister of State; the Minister of the Interior and Security; and the Minister for defence at the Office of the President. 4. The Independent Expert also met with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Chairperson of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the investigating judge of the first chamber of the Abidjan military court, magistrates of the special investigation unit, the head of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Authority (ADDR) and the head of the Operational Decisions Coordination Centre. 5. The Independent Expert also met with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and the various departments of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). 6. The Independent Expert expresses his gratitude to the head of the UNOCI Human Rights Division and his team who, in addition to organizing an excellent itinerary for the visit, contributed essential information to this report. 7. The Independent Expert met with the technical and financial partners of Côte d’Ivoire, among them the United Nations system and several diplomatic missions to the country, including those of the African Union, the European Union, Ghana, Canada, France, the United States of America and Senegal. 8. The Independent Expert visited the interior of the country, notably Odienné, where he met with Simone Gbagbo, and Bouna, where he enquired about the detention conditions of around 15 detainees who had been arrested in Liberia. He also met with the former Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI), Pascal Affi N’Guessan, and the former Minister of Defence, Lida Kouassi. At the National Surveillance Directorate (DST), the Independent Expert met Charles Blé Goudé, leader of the Young Patriots. The Independent Expert also went to the Sainte Anne-Marie International Polyclinic, where he asked about the detention conditions of Simone Gbagbo, Geneviève Yobou Bro-Grebé, Kuyo Téa Narcisse and Michel Gbagbo. 9. This visit, which took place immediately after the regional and local elections of 21 April 2013, allowed the Independent Expert to evaluate the status of the current democratic process, particularly through his meetings with civil society and human rights NGOs. He also met with the leaders of a range of political parties, including the FPI, the Parti 4 GE.13-15028