UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, concludes visit to Côte d’Ivoire

ABIDJAN – Three years after the High Commissioner’s visit to Côte d’Ivoire, I am pleased to note progress on many fronts, including human rights, in the wake of the Ouagadougou Political Accord (OPA). During my short visit to Abidjan I met with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leadership of the National Human Rights Commission, representatives of national human rights NGOs, members of Human Rights Clubs in Schools, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, members of the UN Country Team and the diplomatic corps.

During my discussions with government officials, I was reassured by their awareness of the importance of human rights as a central element in ensuring a peaceful pre-electoral environment and in setting the foundation for durable peace and development in Côte d’Ivoire. The Prime Minister repeatedly stated his firm belief that respect for human rights is essential to ending the current crisis in the country and should be an integral part of the process of implementation of the OPA. I was heartened by the readiness of the Minister of Justice and Human Rights to explore the idea of developing a national policy and setting up an inter-ministerial body to fight impunity. At my meeting with the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I expressed concern about the Amnesty Ordinance of 2007 which appears not to be fully in line with the amnesty provisions in the OPA and the 2003 Amnesty Law. I recalled the widely accepted principles of international law and UN practice that, in fighting impunity, there should be no amnesty for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of human rights. I encouraged the Government to review the Amnesty Ordinance of 2007 to bring it in line with international standards.

There is an important opportunity to give visibility to and engage on key human rights issues, in particular on sexual and gender-based violence, during the critical months leading to the presidential and legislative elections. As in many post-conflict societies, a culture of impunity often manifests in the sexual/ gender-based violence against women. Taking concrete steps to bring to justice the perpetrators of violence against women is a key element of combating impunity and has positive and broader implications for other human rights challenges.

I was very impressed by the existing collaboration between the Human Rights Division (HRD) of UNOCI, which represents and is supported by OHCHR, and the national counterparts – government, civil society organizations and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). I would encourage the authorities to further extend their cooperation with all international human rights and justice mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on toxic waste and the International Criminal Court, both of whom have expressed their intention to visit Côte d’Ivoire in pursuance of their mandates. Regarding civil society organizations and the newly established NHRC, OHCHR stands ready, in collaboration with UNOCI, to provide support for strengthening their capacities to raise awareness of human rights during the pre-electoral period and beyond.

I was uplifted by my meeting with hundreds of student members of Human Rights Clubs in 26 schools in Abidjan, which filled me with a sense of optimism regarding the future of Côte d’Ivoire. I leave the country impressed by the determination expressed by all parties with whom I met to place human rights at the center in the endeavors to face the numerous challenges in the upcoming months. OHCHR, through the HRD of UNOCI, remains a willing and useful partner. The fruits of these endeavors, as I have reminded my interlocutors, will be on display when Côte d’Ivoire engages with the Human Rights Council in Geneva next year, under the newly established Universal Periodic Review mechanism.