Côte d'Ivoire: Poor prison conditions and excessive use of preventive detention must be tackled

The country delegation was led by Mr Lambert Allou Yao, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in Geneva.

Main issues discussed

The CAT experts urged the government to bring the definition of torture enshrined in its Criminal Code into line with the Convention against torture. Failure to properly define and criminalized torture has favored impunity remains including related to crimes committed during the 2011 post elections political crisis especially with the adoption of an amnesty decree that has denied justice and reparation for thousands of victims. The CAT has prescribed investigations to identifyand punish authors and provide reparations to all victims.

Furthermore, additional measures should be taken to tackle female genital mutilation affecting over 40% of women and girls, including 70% in the north of the country, despite legal criminalization of these practices.

Deep concerns were raised about poor detention conditions and the excessive use of preventive detention, as the country is facing serious prison overcrowding, reaching three times the capacity in prisons. The experts have recalled that theratification of OPCAT by Côte d’Ivoire, is only a first step and should be complemented by the approval of CSOs prison monitoring and the establishment a National Preventive Mechanism with the mandate to conduct unannounced visit including in secret detention of facilities and those held by intelligence services.

Finally, while commending the adoption of a law on the protection of human rights defenders, The CAT has expressed concerns on the continuous threats against human rights defenders, members of civil society organisations, journalists and opposition leaders and recommended the inclusion of human rights defenders in the committee in charge of their protection.

The CAT’s recommendations are available here. 


Follow-up recommendations:

The State party should provide information by 26 July 2025 on the implementation of recommendations regarding

• The improvement of conditions of detention and measures to alleviate prison overcrowding
• The Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DST) and the closing of all unofficial places of detention
• Monitoring places of detention and the establishment of a national preventive mechanism
• Allegations of torture and the fight against impunity

Watch here (part one and part two) of the dialogue with the CAT.

Read our alternative report to the CAT (in French).