Deputy United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Kyung-wha Kang has called on the Cote d'Ivoire authorities to revise the amnesty law which was promulgated in April 2007 to ensure that it "conforms to international standards."
"I expressed my concerns about the April 12, 2007 decree on amnesty provisions, some of which are apparently not in conformity with the provisions on amnesty contained in Ouagadougou agreement," Kang, who is here on an official visit, told reporters on Tuesday.
"In accordance with the universally-recognized principles of international law and practices of the United Nations, no amnesty is possible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and other serious violations of human rights," said Kang.
"In this regard, I encouraged the government to revise the April 12, 2007 decree on amnesty in order to bring it into conformity with existing international standards," Kang, who was addressing a press conference marking the end of his 72-hour visit to the country, said.
Signed by President Laurent Gbagbo, the amnesty law covers "offences committed by Cote d'Ivoire nationals in the territory or in exile against the security of the state and national defense" between September 17, 2000 and the date of its signing.
Cote d'Ivoire is in the middle of implementing a comprehensive peace agreement that was signed by Gbagbo and the New Forces (FN) rebels in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, in March 2007.
The agreement, which saw FN secretary-general Guillaume Soro appointed to the position of prime minister, is aimed at ending the current crisis and reunifying the country that has been divided into two almost equal parts for the past six years.
During the press conference, the deputy UN human rights chief also "welcomed" the progress that has been achieved by Cote d'Ivoire in the field of human rights since the signing of the Ouagadougou agreement.
Source:Xinhua
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