Côte d’Ivoire: UN human rights chief reminds authorities of their obligation to protect civilians

GENEVA (31 December 2010) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has written individually to a group of leaders in key authority positions in Côte d’Ivoire to remind them in the strongest terms that they will be held personally responsible and accountable for human rights violations resulting from their actions and/or omissions, according to international human rights and humanitarian law.

“The international criminal justice system that has developed over the past fifteen or so years has given us a tool of accountability we did not have before,” Pillay said announcing the communications. “No longer can heads of state, and other actors, be sure that they can commit atrocious violations and get away with it.”

The UN human rights chief reminded Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and the Commanders of the Ivorian Republican Guard (General Bruno Ble Dogbo), the Marines (Rear admiral Vagba Faussignaux) and the Security Operations Command Centre (General Georges Guiai Bi Poin) of their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. These include a responsibility to refrain from committing, ordering, inciting, instigating or standing by in tacit approval of human rights violations, and to prevent subordinates from committing these violations, and to punish those who have done so.

“I must also warn persons who, as subordinates, receive instructions, directions and orders to commit human rights violations,” Pillay stressed. “They, too, have a direct individual criminal responsibility for their actions and omissions. It is no excuse that they may have been merely carrying out orders, directions or instructions from above.”

The UN human rights chief reiterated her strong concern that the deteriorating security conditions in the country and the interference with the UN Office in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) continue to block the investigation of a large number of human rights violations reported.

“We have received reports of at least two mass graves; however, UN human rights teams have been denied access to the scenes of these atrocities in order to investigate them,” Pillay said. “Denying access to alleged mass grave sites and places where the victims’ mortal remains are allegedly deposited constitutes a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

The High Commissioner expressed concern about the continuous threats and attacks against UNOCI patrols and personnel, which have hindered their operations and ability to protect civilians. Pillay also drew attention to the inflammatory rhetoric by the newly appointed Minister for youth, Blé Goudé, and others calling for attacks against the UN and “non Ivorians,” as well as reports about the marking of homes with ethnic identities, which could be followed by attacks against civilians from certain ethnic groups.

The UN human rights chief reiterated her call on all Ivoirians and their leaders to respect the rights of everyone in Côte d’Ivoire. “I particularly urge them at this trying time to refrain from further acts or omissions that may amount to punishable violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

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Note to journalists: High Commissioner Pillay will not be available for interviews; however, phone interviews in English and French with OHCHR experts can be arranged through the Office Media Unit. Please contact: Xabier Celaya (Tel: +41 22 917 9383 / Mob: + 41 79 444 7578 / email: xcelaya@ohchr.org).