Côte d’Ivoire: “The patterns of rights violations continue” – UN human rights report

GENEVA (23 February 2011) – A new report* released by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, highlights a continuous pattern of serious human rights violations since the presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire on 28 November 2010, and recommends action to cease the violations and bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the protection of civilians.

While the report commissioned by the Human Rights Council only covers events up to 31 January 2011, it documents a constant trend in rights violations, with almost 300 people killed, most as a result of extra-judicial killings committed by elements of the security forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo. On 22 February only, it was reported that 16 individuals were killed.

These human rights violations include extrajudicial killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, excessive use of force by security forces and destruction of property committed by the security forces and individuals, and incitement to violence by state television.

The UN human rights report shows that most of these serious violations are perpetrated in the areas under the control of Mr. Gbagbo and his supporters, mainly in the Southern and Western regions and in Abidjan. It also notes that some incidents are committed in the areas controlled by the Forces Nouvelles.

In the report, High Commissioner Pillay expresses her concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation as well as to the obstructions to the movement and operation of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and its Human Rights Division, and attacks on UN staff. The High Commissioner calls on all parties, in particular Mr. Gbagbo and his supporters, to cease infringements of human rights, to allow the independent investigation on human rights violations and to cooperate with the UN for the protection of civilians.

(*) Check the full report human rights report on Côte d’Ivoire: http://www2.ohchr.org/SPdocs/Countries/CI/HCReportCoteIvoire.doc

OHCHR Country Page – Cote d’Ivoire: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CIIndex.aspx

Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Mr. Mutoy Mubiala (Tel: + 41 22 928 9155 / email: mmubiala@ohchr.org)