A/HRC/29/49 I. Introduction 1. The present report, covering the period from 1 December 2014 to 31 March 2015, is submitted pursuant to resolution 26/32 of the Human Rights Council, adopted on 27 June 2014, in which the Council decided to establish a new mandate on capacity-building and technical cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire in the field of human rights, to follow on from the previous mandate, for a renewable period of one year, and requested the Independent Expert to submit a report at its twenty-eighth session and his final recommendations at its twenty-ninth session. 2. The Independent Expert’s first visit to Côte d’Ivoire took place from 12 to 21 January 2015. He was received by Alassane Ouattara, the President of Côte d’Ivoire, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior and Security, the Minister for Employment, Social Affairs and Vocational Training, the Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Public Freedoms, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of National Education and Technical Education and other senior civilian and military authorities. 3. The Independent Expert met with the Prosecutor-General at the Court of Appeals of Abidjan, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance of Abidjan, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, the chairperson of the National Electoral Commission and the former chairperson of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Independent Expert visited detention centres in Abidjan. He also met with the leaders of the majority and opposition political parties, religious leaders, traditional chiefs, human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the diplomatic corps and United Nations bodies. 4. The Independent Expert wishes to thank the Ivorian authorities for facilitating the effective completion of the mission and for being so open to dialogue. He would also like to thank all those who provided him with useful information on the human rights situation in Côte d’Ivoire. He would furthermore like to commend the excellent work done by Mr. Doudou Diène, the previous Independent Expert. 5. The Independent Expert wishes to thank the officials of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the staff of the Human Rights Division of UNOCI for their technical and logistical support, which ensured the smooth running of his mission to Côte d’Ivoire. II. General situation in the country A. Institutional framework 6. Côte d’Ivoire has a presidential system of government (Constitution of 23 July 2000). The President is elected by universal suffrage in a two-round election for a five-year term renewable only once. The President holds executive power. He appoints the Prime Minister — the head of Government — who is answerable to him. Côte d’Ivoire has a single-chamber Parliament (Constitution, art. 58). The Parliament adopts legislation, including in relation to the fundamental freedoms of citizens. 7. The Ivorian Constitution establishes the principle of the independence of the judiciary from the other branches of government. The President of the Republic is the guarantor of the independence of the judiciary. He presides over the Supreme Council of Justice. 4 GE.15-08296