VZCZCXYZ0024
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAB #0627/01 1631408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121408Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1453
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0151

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 000627 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016 
TAGS: PHUM PREL IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE:  INFORMATION ON OHCHR FIELD PRESENCE 
 
REF:  STATE 73151 
 
Classified By: Econ. Chief A. Lewis for reason 1.4(B) & (D) 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  The UN's High Commissioner for Human 
Rights (OHCHR) is represented in Cote d'Ivoire by the 
Division of Human Rights (HR), which is part of the larger UN 
Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Its overarching mission 
is to promote human rights in Cote d'Ivoire.  The HR works in 
a collaborative fashion with the other divisions of UNOCI, 
particularly UN military peacekeepers (PKU) and civilian 
police (UNCIVPOL), and cooperates with other UN agencies in 
Cote d'Ivoire such as the Office for the Coordination of 
Human Affairs (OCHA).  In addition, HR partners with a number 
of local NGOs, who act as HR's eyes and ears in the field. 
HR believes that with additional resources it would be a more 
effective observer and recorder of violations, and it could 
beef up its technical assistance programs.  Finally, HR 
believes that it is constrained by its mandate.  It has no 
power, for example, to force engagement of UN troops, CIVPOL 
officers, or unarmed military observers to prevent or halt 
ongoing violations.  HR and the local NGO community would 
like to see more done on the prevention of violations.  End 
Summary 
 
Human Rights Division Structure 
 
¶2.  (U) HR's overarching mission is to promote human rights 
in Cote d'Ivoire based on international norms.  To meet this 
mandate, HR engages in the following day-to-day operations: 
observation and verification of violations of human rights; 
lobbying of local and national governments and ex-rebel 
officials to insure protection of civilians, particularly 
women and children; documentation of acts of violence against 
women and girls; technical assistance and capacity building 
for local NGOs; and, assistance for the installation of a 
National Commission on Human Rights.  HR has 29 human rights 
officer and an equal number of local staff scattered 
throughout Cote d'Ivoire.  The staff are located in both the 
government-controlled South (Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Daloa), 
and the ex-rebel controlled North (Bouake, Odienne, Korhogo, 
and Bouna.)  HR has requested funding for an additional 
southern office in San Pedro in its 2006-07 budget.  IT has 
no immediate plans to reopen its Guiglo office, which has 
been closed since the anti-UN violence occurred in the South 
in January 2006.  The HR works in a collaborative fashion 
with the other divisions of UNOCI - Gender Unit, PKU, and 
UNCIVPOL - and with other UN agencies such as OCHA.  HR also 
partners with a number of local NGOs, who act as HR's eyes 
and ears in the field.  Until the anti-UN violence in January 
2006, HR was conducting weekly meetings, which brought 
together the NGOs, PKU, UNCIVPOL, and officials from the 
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of 
Internal Security.  At this weekly forum, NGOs would share 
their concerns about specific cases and would have the 
opportunity to engage the requisite ministries.  Based on the 
information it collects, either first-hand or via its partner 
NGOs, HR prepares quarterly reports.  (Note:  Reports used to 
be monthly, but due to resource constraints HR has now 
decided to publish quarterly.)  In addition, when special 
investigative missions are sent by the OHCHR, HR acts as 
local guide for the staff from Geneva. 
 
Human Rights Division's Self Assessment 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  HR believes that, with additional man-power and 
extra field offices, it would be a more effective observer 
and recorder of violations.  HR has asked for greater 
resources in its 2006-07 budget in order to expand its 
technical assistance programs, something that the  local NGO 
community is clamoring for.  Finally, HR believes that it is 
constrained by UNOCI's mandate.  It has no power, for 
example, to force engagement by UN troops, CIVPOL officers, 
or even unarmed military observers to prevent or halt ongoing 
violations.  HR would like to see more done on the prevention 
of violations, but the Division Chief, Simon Munzu, asserts 
that unless UNOCI's mandate changes, HR cannot legally become 
more involved in the prevention of violations. 
 
Assessment by Local NGOs 
 
¶4.  (C)  We interviewed six of the most-prominent Ivoirian 
human rights organizations, who are HR's partners, to garner 
an outside assessment of the HR.  The NGOs are:  Association 
for the Promotion of Human Rights (ADPH), Ivoirian Human 
Rights League (LIDHO), National Organization for Children 
(ONEF), Organization of Active Women of Cote d'Ivoire 
(OFACI), the Ivorian Human Rights Movement (MIDH), and the 
Association of Women Lawyers (AFJCI). 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  The NGOs: 
 
-- Stated that they were glad that the Human Rights Division 
exists.  However, none of the organizations thought that HR's 
profile was high enough.  Most of the organizations 
anticipate that human rights violations will only increase 
the closer Cote d'Ivoire moves to elections and suggested the 
need for a "Special Representative for Human Rights." 
 
-- Lamented the lack of financial support and paucity of 
technical assistance programs provided by HR.  Since the 
events of November 2004, most of the organization have seen 
their bilateral funding sources (Germany, Switzerland, 
Canada, EU) dry up, and as a consequence they are looking to 
the UN to fill the gap. 
 
-- Asked for USG support to restart their weekly sessions. 
However, the NGOs asked that the HR filter which 
organizations it brings to the table.  There were unanimity 
between the NGOs that the meetings had gotten unwieldy and 
there were too many groups there who were only interesting in 
taking notes on who was complaining about violations.  Many 
NGO leaders we spoke to expressed concerns about the threats 
they had received in the months preceding January 2006 due to 
the cases they chose to bring before the combined 
HR/UN/NGO/GOCI group. 
 
-- Stated that HR seemed to spend most of its time writing 
non-public reports.  The groups interviewed understood that 
HR's mandate did not extend to enforcement, but nonetheless 
they believed it is important for the victims, unless they 
specifically request privacy, that HR's reporting be made 
public. 
 
-- Requested that HR move to a more pro-active posture.  The 
NGOs stated that it was good to record violations after the 
fact.  However, they wanted to see the UN actively protecting 
civilians and taking steps to promote human rights and 
prevent violations from occurring. 
 
-- Complained that HR, PKU, and UNCIVPOL all disappear at the 
first sign of trouble, often leaving their local partners 
exposed to danger.  They cited both November 2004 and January 
2006 as times when the UN was unavailable. 
 
¶6.  (C) Comment:  the general consensus is that Cote d'Ivoire 
is better off with the UN's Division of Human Rights than 
without.  However, resource constraints and limitations in 
its mandate stymie its effectiveness in Cote d'Ivoire.  It is 
difficult to imagine that UNOCI's Division of Human Rights 
will receive an across-the-board budgetary increase.  HR 
could choose to shift its current resources away from highly 
paid expatriate staff, who write gobs of reports, and move to 
a leaner structure where its limited funding would be 
allocated to support local NGOs.  Increases in small grant 
authority for technical assistance programs, for example, 
would go a long way to help support the NGO community in its 
efforts to monitor the situation in the field.  The NGO's 
comments about the disappearance of the UN in times of crisis 
is unfortunately true.  The UN has focused on the protection 
of UN personnel and equipment before the protection of 
civilian lives and property.  Based on its past performance 
efficacy, if asked to provide a grade, we would give the HR a 
C- at best.  End Comment 
Valle