CÔTE D'IVOIRE: INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO LOOK INTO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS TO COMMENCE ITS WORK

9 July 2004


The International Commission of Inquiry established in June 2004 by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will depart for Côte d'Ivoire on 18 July 2004. The Commission, which will be accompanied by its secretariat and forensics experts, will also visit neighbouring countries while carrying out its tasks.

The Members of the Commission are Aref Mohamed Aref (Djibouti), Gerard Balanda (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Fatima Mbaye (Mauritania), Radhia Nazraoui (Tunisia), and Almiro Rodrigues (Portugal). They will be in Geneva from 12 to 16 July 2004 to attend meetings and gather information. During this period, they will meet with representatives of the international community and non-governmental organizations.

At the end of its work the Commission will submit its report to the High Commissioner, who will then transmit it to the Secretary-General.

The International Commission, charged to look into the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law which have occurred in Côte d'Ivoire since 19 September 2002, was established in accordance with the provisions of appendix VI of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, and was pursuant to the requests of President Laurent Gbagbo.



* *** *