RES/20/19 Technical assistance to Côte d’Ivoire in the field of human rights

GE.12-15637 (E) 300712

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

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council**

20/19 Technical assistance to Côte d’Ivoire in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

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

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

Recalling also Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building, and 5/2, on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Recalling further Council resolutions S-14/1 of 23 December 2010 and 16/25 of 25 March 2011 concerning the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire and 17/21 of 17 June 2011 establishing the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire,

Reaffirming that all States have a responsibility 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 relevant human rights instruments,

Welcoming the holding of legislative elections in Côte d’Ivoire on 11 December 2011, which show a commitment to the reconciliation process under way,

Noting that, while the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire has substantially improved, it remains relatively fragile in view of the many challenges, particularly as regards the restoration of peace, national reconciliation, security sector reform and economic recovery,

* Reissued for technical reasons on 30 July 2012. ** The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council are included in the Council’s

report in its twentieth session (A/HRC/20/2), chap. 1.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/20/19*

General Assembly Distr.: General 17 July 2012 English Original: French

A/HRC/RES/20/19*

2 GE.12-15637

Gravely concerned by the attacks on personnel of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire in the exercise of their mandate to protect civilians,

1. Strongly condemns the attacks on the civilian population and personnel of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire;

2. Condemns and deplores in particular the killing of seven United Nations peacekeepers on 8 June 2012 in the town of Para while they were assisting the civilian population under attack by unidentified armed elements;

3. Welcomes the cooperation of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire with the United Nations human rights machinery and its commitment to promote and protect human rights, and encourages the continuation of efforts to end all human rights violations and help victims;

4. Commends the establishment on 13 July 2011 of a Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Côte d’Ivoire;

5. Takes note of the establishment on 20 July 2011 of a National Commission of Inquiry in Côte d’Ivoire to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations of serious abuses and human rights violations in Côte d’Ivoire following the presidential election of 28 November 2010, which should address the causes of violence and ensure equity in the justice system for all Ivorians affected by the aforementioned human rights violations;

6. Also takes note of the report and recommendations that the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire submitted to the Council at its nineteenth session;

7. Welcomes the commitments undertaken by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire at the nineteenth session of the Council to endorse the independent expert’s recommendations, particularly those related to rebuilding democracy, combating impunity through the justice system and strengthening inclusive political pluralism and cultural and religious pluralism;

8. Encourages the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to continue to ratify and implement international and regional human rights instruments, to comply with their reporting requirements and to promote human rights education;

9. Notes with concern the seriousness of the humanitarian situation on the ground, and calls on United Nations agencies and other relevant actors to continue to cooperate with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to provide assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, in conformity with the measures put in place by the Ivorian Government, so as to encourage their safe and voluntary return to their homes;

10. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the technical assistance requested by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and to work with it to identify other areas of assistance that will help Côte d’Ivoire to meet its human rights obligations;

11. Also invites the international community to continue to support the reconciliation process under way in Côte d’Ivoire, including through support for the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and to identify the specific areas in which such assistance is necessary;

12. Calls upon the international community to support the national efforts made by Côte d’Ivoire and its institutions to improve the human rights situation in the country, and to respond to its requests for technical assistance in the humanitarian, educational, health, economic and social spheres;

A/HRC/RES/20/19*

GE.12-15637 3

13. Also calls upon both the international community and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to support the National Human Rights Commission, through technical assistance and capacity-building programmes, with a view to ensuring its independence and enabling it to contribute to the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights of the Ivorian people, in accordance with the Paris Principles;

14. Decides therefore to renew the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire for a period of one year, from the twentieth to the twenty-third session of the Human Rights Council;

15. Requests the independent expert to submit his report at the twenty-second session and his recommendations at the twenty-third session of the Human Rights Council;

16. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

33rd meeting 6 July 2012

[Adopted without a vote]