RES/13/21 Strengthening of technical cooperation and consultative services in the Republic of Guinea

GE.10-12986 (E) 230410 280410

Human Rights Council Thirteenth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

13/21 Strengthening of technical cooperation and consultative services in the Republic of Guinea The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other applicable human rights instruments,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,

Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stated in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international covenants on human rights and other applicable instruments to which they are parties,

Noting with appreciation the role played by the international community, in particular the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the European Union, in reinforcing the rule of law and improving the situation of human rights in Guinea,

Noting with concern that the human rights and security situation remains fragile in Guinea,

Recalling that it is the primary responsibility of Guinea to protect its civilian population and to conduct inquiries into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and bring the perpetrators to justice, Considering that the work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guinea must be sufficiently reinforced,

1. Condemns the massacre of unarmed civilians who had gathered for a peaceful rally, on 28 September 2009 in the main stadium in Conakry, and the serious human rights

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its thirteenth session (A/HRC/13/56), chap. I.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/13/21

General Assembly Distr.: General 15 April 2010 English Original: French

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violations committed the same day and in the course of the following days, and in particular the sexual violations of a particularly serious nature committed against women by members of the Armed Forces and the security forces;

2. Commends the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, and of the President of Burkina Faso, Mr. Blaise Compaoré, in his capacity as mediator on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States, and welcomes the communiqué of the African Union Summit, dated 3 February 2010, and those of the International Contact Group on Guinea, dated 26 January and 22 February 2010;

3. Takes note of the Joint Declaration of Ouagadougou of 15 January 2010, the appointment of an interim president and the establishment of a national unity government led by a civilian prime minister designated by the opposition;

4. Takes note also of the decision by the transitional authorities to set 27 June 2010 as the date for the first round of presidential elections, and of their undertaking not to stand at those elections, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Ouagadougou;

5. Further takes note of the work of the International Commission of Inquiry established by the United Nations Secretary-General and supported by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to investigate the facts and circumstances of the events of 28 September 2009 in Guinea consistent with its mandate (see S/2009/556), and of the submission by the Commission of its report (S/2009/693, annex), and invites the Guinean authorities to consider implementing the recommendations on, inter alia:

(a) Combating impunity for those responsible for or involved in serious human rights violations, and in particular acts of sexual violence against women and girls;

(b) Protection for, and the granting of assistance of every kind and appropriate reparation to, the victims of acts of violence;

(c) Reform of the justice sector; (d) Reform of the security sector; 6. Takes note in this regard of the announcement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa of measures to assist the Guinean authorities in the reform of the security sector (see S/2009/682); 7. Welcomes the decision by the Government of Guinea to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to opening a country office in Guinea;

8. Invites the transitional authorities to take the necessary steps to promote the gender perspective and reinforce women’s involvement in the mediation and decision- making processes in conflict resolution, peacebuilding and the promotion and defence of human rights;

9. Strongly appeals to the international community:

(a) To provide the transitional authorities, as soon as possible, with appropriate assistance as a contribution to a sustainable restoration of peace and the constitutional order, and to the success of the transition to democracy under the provisions of the Joint Declaration of Ouagadougou, and in particular to provide the assistance needed to support the authorities’ efforts to ensure that the presidential elections planned for 27 June 2010 take place;

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(b) To support the efforts of the Guinean authorities to promote respect for human rights, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, combating impunity and reform of the security and justice sectors; 10. Invites the High Commissioner to make available to her office in Guinea the human and financial resources necessary for its establishment and smooth functioning;

11. Invites the High Commissioner to report to the Council at its sixteenth ordinary session on the situation of human rights and the work of her office in Guinea.

44th meeting 26 March 2010

[Adopted without a vote]