CÔTE D’IVOIRE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: A STRONG COMMITMENT AND AN EXPERIENCE TO BE SHARED
Since its accession to national and international sovereignty, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire has asserted its determination to build a state governed by the rule of law in which respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, human dignity, justice, and good governance constitute a priority for its government.
The Preamble as well as article 2 of the Ivorian Constitution of November 08, 2016, uphold that commitment as they reaffirm the right to respect for the human dignity of every person.
Also, during the three terms as a member of the United Nations Human
Rights Council (2013-2015, 2016 -2018, 2021-2023) Côte d'Ivoire has
contributed and continues to work towards the promotion and protection.
of Human Rights.
This constant presence in this august body of the United Nations is a recognition by the international community of the efforts of the Ivorian authorities for the promotion and protection of human rights through measures taken at the national, regional and international levels.
Vigorous measures and firm commitments at national and regional level
Côte d’Ivoire has adopted several legislative and regulatory texts to consolidate the promotion and protection of Human Rights for the benefit of people within its jurisdiction.
These texts cover various areas including the protection of witnesses, victims, denouncers, experts and other persons concerned, the protection of minors, compulsory and free schooling for children of both sexes up to 16 years of age, equality between men and women in marriage, universal Health Insurance…
In this regards, Law No. 2014-388 of June 20, 2014 relating to the promotion and protection of Human Rights constitutes an unprecedented text in Africa. This law transposes into domestic law numerous provisions of the 1998 United nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Côte d'Ivoire has also ratified most legal instruments initiated at the regional and sub-regional level in terms of Human Rights and has ensured since 2022 the Coordination of Human Rights issues at the level of the African Group in Geneva. As such, she works to reconcile the positions of the African Group on different themes and represents the Group during sessions of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.
The Ivorian Government is driven by the firm desire to continue and intensify its actions aimed at socio-professional sectors, through a series of awareness-raising activities.
To this end, the country adopted, on February 23, 2022, a National Human Rights Plan containing more than 350 activities.
Progress at the international level and firm commitments to strengthen the achievements.
Côte d’Ivoire is party to several international conventions relating to human rights. The most recent accession relates to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (instrument transmitted on September 6, 2023).
The Ivorian Government intends to continue to honor its commitment to submit periodic reports to the Human Rights Treaty Bodies, but also to ensure the implementation of the recommendations made to it, in this framework as well as in that of the universal periodic review.
It continues its consultations with its Parliament regarding other international instruments not yet ratified.
Through its candidacy for re-election, for the period 2024-2026, Côte d'Ivoire intends to continue its actions to defend and promote Human Rights, and thus contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, while putting his experience at the service of the Council and the international community.
