A/HRC/26/52 I. Introduction 1. This report is submitted in accordance with resolution 23/22 of the Human Rights Council, in which the Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert for one year and requested him to submit a report at is twenty-fifth session and recommendations at its twenty-sixth session. 2. This report covers the period between December 2013 and April 2014. It is based on information gathered from government authorities, specialized United Nations agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), political actors and detainees. The Independent Expert wishes once again to express his gratitude to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for facilitating his stay in the country and his meetings with the national and local authorities. He met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Economy and Finance, the Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Civil Liberties, the Secretary of State and the Minister of the Interior and Security, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister for Solidarity, the Family, Women and Children, the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Minister of Tourism. 3. The Independent Expert held meetings with the Army Chief of Staff, the chairperson of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the attorney-general of the Abidjan Court of Appeal, the district attorney of the Abidjan court of first instance, the Government commissioner at the military court, the head of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Authority, the chairperson of the National Press Council and members of the National Human Rights Commission. 4. He also met with the Special Representative of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral for Côte d’Ivoire and her deputies and members of the various components of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). 5. He also held meetings with the country’s partners, including the United Nations system and a number of diplomatic missions, such as those of Canada, the European Union, France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. 6. The Independent Expert wishes once again to express his gratitude to the chief of the Human Rights Division of UNOCI and his team, whose support was instrumental in the success of his mission and the preparation of this report. 7. The Independent Expert visited Simone Gbagbo in Odienné and Michel Gbagbo in Abidjan. He travelled to the short-stay prison and correctional facility in Abidjan and the National Surveillance Directorate. 8. He met with the leaders of political parties, including the Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) (Ivorian Popular Front), the Rassemblement des Républicains de Côte d’Ivoire (Republican Rally of Côte d’Ivoire), the Parti Démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire) and the party Liberté et Démocratie pour la République (LIDER) (Freedom and Democracy for the Republic). 9. He held meetings with a number of civil society organizations, including organizations for the defence of women’s and victims’ rights. In order to hear their views and advice, he also met with civil society leaders, including Mr. Amara Essy, former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, and Mr. Bernard Dadié, a distinguished Ivorian writer. 4 GE.14-02949