World news story

Universal Periodic Review 33: Côte d’Ivoire

The UK encourages Côte d’Ivoire to take all necessary action to eliminate all forms of child labour and trafficking. We urge Cote d’Ivoire to ensure 2020 Presidential elections are free, fair and peaceful and, in line with international law, that the ability of all individuals to freely exercise their rights be protected.

• From: UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)
• Published: 8 May 2019

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

The Universal Periodic Review takes place in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom welcomes Côte d’Ivoire’s determination to make progress on human rights since its last UPR in 2014. In particular, we welcome the prohibition of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, including violence against women, forced labour, and human trafficking in Article 5 of the Constitution of November 2016.

We encourage Côte d’Ivoire to take all necessary action to eliminate all forms of child labour and trafficking in the cocoa industry and other areas, such as domestic work. We welcome the mandate of the National Committee for Monitoring Actions against Trafficking, Exploitation and Child Labour.

We urge Cote d’Ivoire to ensure 2020 Presidential elections are free, fair and peaceful and, in line with international law, that the ability of all individuals to freely exercise their rights be protected.

We recommend:

1. Protecting the right to freedom of expression, in line with Article 19 of the Constitution, so that all individuals, including journalists, may speak openly without fear of reprisal or arrest.

2. Implementing in full the Recommendations of the National Committee for Monitoring Actions against Trafficking, Exploitation and Child Labour to end child labour and trafficking.

3. Adopting an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.

Thank you.

Published 8 May 2019