CÔTE D’IVOIRE: UN EXPERT BODY ON DISCRIMINATION RAISES ALARM ON ETHNIC VIOLENCE AND INCITEMENT TO HATRED

GENEVA – The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged Côte d’Ivoire to immediately halt inter-ethnic violence and clashes. It also called for immediate action to investigate and punish the perpetrators of ethnic violence and provide redress to the victims in line with international human rights standards.

In a decision issued today under its early warning and urgent action procedure, the UN expert body underscored its concern about “reports of the seriously declining human rights and humanitarian situation in Cote d’Ivoire, including ethnic tensions, incitement to ethnic violence, xenophobia, religious and ethnic discrimination.”

The Committee deplored “that the political stalemate that followed the proclamation of presidential election results continues to be marked by a number of serious and escalating human rights and humanitarian violations across the country.”

These included, according to the UN expert body, ethnic clashes that have resulted in deaths, numerous injured people, destruction of property, and the displacement of population inside and outside the country. “The humanitarian situation is worsening with a large number of refugees fleeing Côte d’Ivoire to neighbouring countries including to Liberia,” the experts added.

The Committee also called upon the UN Secretary General to continue drawing the attention of the Security Council to the situation in Côte d’Ivoire which “could evolve into a threat to international peace and security, along with extended violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

In its decision, the UN expert body recalled that “Côte d’Ivoire has ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and is under the obligation to prevent and protect persons against acts of hatred, incitement to racial and ethnic violence or any form of violence based on ethnicity.”

(*) Decision of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/early-warning.htm

Learn more about the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/index.htm

The Committee’s members: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/members.htm

Check the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cerd.htm

OHCHR Country page – Côte d’Ivoire: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/CIIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Ms. Gabriella Habtom (Tel.: + 41 22 917 9193 / e-mail: ghabtom@ohchr.org)


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CRD11/017E