ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ESTABLISHES INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FOR CÔTE D’IVOIRE

8 April 2004

Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, has established an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations committed during an anti-government protest in Côte d’Ivoire two weeks ago.

Three internationally recognized experts have been appointed and they will leave from Geneva to Abidjan next week in order to establish the facts and responsibilities on alleged atrocities which were committed on 25 and 26 March 2004.

The mission will be composed by Ms. Vera Duarte (Cape Verde), Coordinator of the National Committee of Human Rights and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Cape Verde, Mr. Eugène Nindorera (Burundi), former Minister for Human Rights, and Ms. Franca Sciuto (Italy), Chairperson of Rainforest Foundation, former Chairperson of the International Executive Committee of Amnesty International and member of the Commission on inquiry on Côte d’Ivoire in 2001.

On 2 April, responding to requests from Côte d’Ivoire and the monitoring committee established under its internal peace agreement, Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to lead an investigation into fatal clashes that took place during protest marches in Abidjan on 25 and 26 March 2004.

The members of the Independent Commission of Inquiry will submit their report to the Acting High Commissioner by the end of this month.




* *** *