A/HRC/25/73 57. The Independent Expert was told that it was justified to hold these detainees at their place of detention because of the sensitive nature of the persons involved, in the interests of justice, and also to provide better security. The Independent Expert also requests that the authorities regularize the situation of persons detained by the National Surveillance Directorate. 58. The Independent Expert should like to recall that in the handling of cases of persons imprisoned for human rights violations, the interests of the victims may be jeopardized when there are serious procedural problems, as when the authorities are obliged to cancel an arrest warrant owing to a failure to meet requirements of form. Such situations lead to uncertainty in the scheduling of the rest of the proceedings. The need to defend the rights of detainees must not eclipse the need to respect the rights of the victims, who are awaiting justice and reparation. D. Case of Simone Gbagbo 59. During her meeting with the Independent Expert at Odienné, where she was under house arrest, Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady, complained about her conditions of detention and about her transfer from the Sainte Anne-Marie international clinic (PISAM) to Odienné in May 2013, before her medical treatment was completed. Ms. Gbagbo said that she still required more medical care, including kinesitherapy sessions and ophthalmological consultations, which were not available in Odienné. When asked by the Independent Expert about this case, the Ivorian authorities explained that Ms. Gbagbo had been transferred from the PISAM clinic to Odienné because of unrest and demonstrations and to ensure her own safety. 60. Ms. Gbagbo told the Independent Expert that following her transfer to Odienné she had lost consciousness on several occasions owing to her poor health. She once again complained of the conditions of detention, the violation of her right to receive care, the lack of specialists to follow her case and the freezing of her assets, which made it impossible for her to cover her medical expenses. 61. The Independent Expert has consistently emphasized in all his reports that the detention for over 2 years of persons held in connection with the post-election crisis is against international law. He has thus always called for them to be judged or released, if only pending their trial. The release pending trial of 14 such detainees would thus appear to be a step in the right direction. That measure should be generalized, not only to promote national reconciliation, but also to allow the national and international justice systems to take positions on their cases in conditions in which their rights are clearly respected. The Independent Expert, firmly convinced that impartial and equitable justice is a decisive factor for lasting national reconciliation, has at the same time argued for a determined campaign against impunity and pointed to the fact that a general amnesty for the perpetrators of serious human rights violations is contrary to international law. Based on these considerations, he considers that Côte d’Ivoire, which has decided in accordance with the Rome Statute to postpone execution of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court and to try Ms. Gbagbo in the national courts, should provide her with sufficiently safe conditions and proper medical care. E. Situation of albinos 62. The organization Bien-être des albinos de Côte d’Ivoire (Albinos Welfare of Côte d’Ivoire) (BEDACI) informed the Independent Expert of the various problems encountered by some 4,000 Ivorian albinos who face social and cultural rejection. BEDACI complained 14 GE.14-10154

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