The Human Rights Council will hold a Special Session on “The situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire since the elections on 28 November 2010” on Thursday 23 December, starting at 10 a.m. in Room XX of the Palais des Nations.
The holding of the Special Session comes at the request of Nigeria on behalf of the African Group and the United States of America.
Mark Cassayre, Political Counselor at the U.S. Mission in Geneva, made the following brief statement December 22, at a Human Rights Council organizational session held to prepare the special session.
“The United States is pleased to join with the African Group and over 30 states in calling this Special Session to discuss the human rights situation in Cote d’Ivoire following the elections of Nov 28. The UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Security Council, UNOCI and others have spoken clearly on this issue, reporting cases of incitement in the media and media restrictions, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and other human rights violations that may be ongoing.
As the leading body on global human rights, the Council has a responsibility to act. We believe the Council’s calling of this Special Session sends a clear, unified message about the importance of human rights in Cote d’Ivoire. As Nigeria stated, the violence must cease and those who perpetrate violence must be held accountable. The will of the Ivoirian people must be upheld and respected.”