This provision is a reflection of the willingness of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to punish torture.
Moreover, it must be pointed out that Côte d’Ivoire has decided to harmonise its Criminal Code and its
Code of Criminal Procedure to conform to the Rome Statute instituting the International Criminal Court by
adopting two draft laws on Wednesday 14 January 2015. This new provision lays special emphasis on the
definition of terms not indicated in the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.
Recommendation XXIII. Take measures aimed at popularising the Robben Island Guidelines, specifically
targeted at officials responsible for implementing the laws ;
On this question, the Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT-CI) Côte d’Ivoire Chapter, with the
support of the International Federation of Christian Associations against Torture (FIACAT) and with
Government assistance, initiated several campaigns for the popularisation of the Robben Island Guidelines
on the one hand, and organised several training workshops for magistrates and police officers, on the
other hand.
Furthermore, in the magistrates and judicial police officers’ training schools, modules on torture are taught.
Better still, through the joint efforts of the police authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and the United Nations Police
(UNPOL), places of detention are increasingly complying with the security measures and protection of the
rights of detainees.
Recommendation XXIV. Provide human rights training for all officers of the security agencies, judicial
and prison services ;
A large-scale training programme intended for these target groups has been prepared. Already, the
military and paramilitary forces received training in Yamoussoukro in October 2011 and in July 2012.
Furthermore, in addition to the security officers in the judicial and prison services, this programme is
intended for all social and professional groups in Côte d’Ivoire. The Government, through the Ministry of
Human Rights, has adopted a human rights promotion and protection policy by raising awareness,
educating and fighting against impunity. These efforts can be attested to by the capacity building seminars
for the military and para-military forces (October 2011, September 2012), human rights focal points in the
Ministries and Public Institutions (March 2012, September 2012), Introduction to Human Rights Education
and Citizenship (EDHC) in the educational system since the 2012-2013 academic year and the training of
trainers in human rights education and citizenship at the National Pedagogical Institute for Technical and
Vocational Education (IPNETP) and at the Advanced National Institute for Arts and Cultural Action
(INSAAC).
Training sessions are currently being organised by various organisations in the Police and Gendarmerie
Academies. The courses, which are focused mainly on the general principles of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child and on international legislation in force, emphasise on sexual and sexist violence
committed against young girls.
The security forces have already benefitted from training on forced labour and child trafficking including
procedures and the system of referencing with the support of the German Cooperation and the
International Catholic Child Bureau.
The commitment of the Ivorian Government in the reform project regarding training curricula in the Police
and Gendarmerie Academies for the incorporation of a permanent and compulsory course on child rights
and protection is part of the 2012-2015 national development plan which aims at developing the capacity of
security forces for improved protection of the civilian population.
Furthermore, the mobile human rights campaign (organised by the Ministry of Human Rights) which has
been reaching out to all parts of the country since 2012, provides a training session for the military and paramiliary forces on the theme “respect for human rights and the maintenance of law and order”.
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