TWO UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS EXPRESS CONCERN REGARDING SITUATION IN COTE D’IVOIRE

24 October 2002




The Commission on Human Rights’ Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diene, and the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, have expressed their grave concern with the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire, especially with respect to relations between communities,.

In the wake of the conflict affecting the country since 19 October 2002, the two Special Rapporteurs said they have received information regarding incitement to ethnic hatred and xenophobia by some media and certain sectors of the population against specific ethnic groups and certain foreigners in the country.

Mr. Diene drew the attention of the authorities to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which condemns all propaganda and expression “which are based on ideas or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or which attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form”.

Mr. Ligabo underlined that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression carries with it, according to the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, special duties and responsibilities, and that, in particular, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred is prohibited.

The Special Rapporteurs invited the authorities of Cote d’Ivoire to increase their vigilance against the risks of ethnic conflict, and to take urgently all necessary measures to put an end to the current situation, which should not benefit from impunity, in conformity with the obligations of the Government under international instruments to which Cote d’Ivoire is a party.

They also echoed the appeals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in West Africa and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and exhorted the authorities to stop the media and other concerned sectors of the population from inciting ethnic hatred and xenophobia and to do all in their power to re-establish a climate of peaceful coexistence among all members of the population.




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