CCFD Earth Solidarity condemns violations of human rights taking place in Coast Ivory
ACAT-France Joint Statement, CCFD Earth Solidarity, Catholic Relief
Friday, January 14, 2011 - Since the beginning of the post-election crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, more than 200 people died, including a number of fact summary executions. Hundreds of people were arbitrarily arrested, and are so far held incommunicado. How many are there for victims of torture? How many of those arrested are never reappear? "It becomes very difficult for defenders of human rights experts and human rights United Nations to investigate the field. The fear of exposing themselves to retaliation deters first, quasi-systematic blockages of their movement to prevent the latter do their job properly, "says Helene Barbier-Earth CCFD Solidarity. Most of these violations were committed on civilian populations in Abidjan, mainly in the district of Abobo.
Moreover, the situation of human rights in parts of the country, as the west and north is unknown because of difficult access impossible. In early January 2011, bloody clashes between communities Malinke and hardly have caused, Duekoue, the death of 34 people according to our information. There are over 20,000 refugees in Liberia, neighbor. "These grave violations of human rights contribute to strengthening inter-communal tensions and political risk being transformed into larger-scale conflict with consequences even more devastating for the Coast d'Ivoire and the subregion "said Marianne Le Gall Diongue Secours Catholique.
"Until now, the Ivorian authorities did nothing to stop the violations of human rights and to ensure that the perpetrators and those responsible for abuses accountable for their actions," said Clement Boursin , ACAT-France. Impunity is not new in Côte d'Ivoire. Since September 2002, the lack of judicial administration in the Central, North and West and the reign of impunity throughout the territory, constitute a major obstacle to national reconciliation and contributing to the current spiral of violence. However, Ivorian authorities on both sides have a duty to respect human rights and protect civilians. They are also responsible of the act of the security forces, which respond to their orders, and the effectiveness of labor courts.
To this end, our organizations strongly urge all parties to:
- take effective measures to stop violations of human rights and to respect the fundamental rights of all Ivorian citizens and foreigners living on the territory of Côte d'Ivoire;
- Take steps to put an end to hate speech, especially those transmitted supporters in the media, and restore law and freedom of information;
- ensure strict compliance by all armed forces of the standards derived from basic principles of the UN's use of force and use of firearms by those responsible for law enforcement;
- ensure that the activists' organizations Ivorian civil society, including advocates of human rights, can carry out their activities safely and in freedom of expression;
- find a peaceful solution to the conflict quickly, so that the country is not taken hostage. Our
associations strongly urge the judicial authorities to:
- Ensure that detainees have rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including the right for their families to know the places of their detention, the right to be brought before justice within the time prescribed by law and the right not to maltreat or torture;
- earnestly carry out independent investigations, exhaustive and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations of human rights recorded since the beginning of the post-election crisis in order to judge the authors and perpetrators and provide remedies victims.
There is still time to avoid chaos. Without justice and respect for human rights, Côte d'Ivoire will never know true peace.
I fully support this initiative and invites you to show your support Sr. Eliane
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