Resolution on the Situation in Ivory Coast
We, Participants of the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples ‘Rights,
Considering the announcement of the report of the presidential election initially scheduled for November 30, 2008;
Considering the provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, in force since January 30 2007, particularly its Article 2.3 which recalls that one of States’ purpose must be to « promote the holding of regular free and fair elections to institutionalize legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change of governments»;
Considering the Article 4 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union which guarantees the respect of democratic principles, human rights, rule of law and good governance;
Recalling also that the provisions of the Ouagadougou agreement adopted on March 4, 2007 focuses notably on the disarmament of rebel forces, the disassembly of militias, the identification of the populations, the reenactment of electoral registers so as to organize the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire;
Deploring the serious dysfunctionings and delays of the electoral process and of the implementation of the Ouagadougou Agreement’s provisions;
Condemning the persistence of the culture of impunity, the grave dysfunctionings of justice throughout the country, the lack of state and rule of law in some areas of the country, the restrictions to public and individual liberties, notably the freedom of movement;
The NGO Forum calls on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to adopt a resolution:
Calling for the return of constitutional order with the holding of pluralistic and transparent elections that guarantee the right of Ivoirians to be represented by the people they have freely elected,
Calling all the parties to respect the provisions of the Ouagadougou Agreement, notably to take all necessary measures to tackle the effective disarmament of rebel forces, the disassembly of militias, the identification of populations and the reenactment of electoral registers;
Requiring the end of the impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations and their bringing to justice;
Calling on Côte d’Ivoire to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and to implement its provisions;
Requiring the strict respect of the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, notably regarding the non-discrimination principle, the rights to information, the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful demonstration;
Calling on the respect of the rights of Human Rights Defenders.
Done in Abuja, November 9th, 2008
