Greater measures to protect civilians and meet fundamental humanitarian needs in Ivory Coast are urgently needed, a coalition of 32 international and African civil society organizations including Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa have warned.
Human Rights Watch writes to Ivorian Minister of Justice Mamadou Koné to express our concern about the prolonged detention without trial of Ivorian civil society leader Modeste Seri. The Ivorian government should either initiate formal trial proceedings against Mr. Seri or drop all charges and order his immediate and unconditional release.
Human Rights Watch writes in advance of the Security Council’s mission to Africa on June 1-10, 2008, urging the Council to use this opportunity to address pressing human rights issues in Sudan, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
Human Rights Watch writes to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in advance of his meetings in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire as part of his upcoming four-nation West African tour, urging him to use his meetings with Liberian and Ivorian government officials, UN mission representatives, and members of civil society to address justice for past crimes.
