The IVR said: “The IVR understands that Mr. Gbagbo met with the West African leaders and requested for amnesty if he hands over the power to the elected president. It will be injustice and morally unacceptable to offer amnesty to criminals who committed unspeakable crimes against their own people.”

Since the election, several innocent and unarmed civilians have been killed by the military under direct order of Gbagbo. Serious of human right abuses are taking place, including kidnapping and torture. More than 15,000 people have already crossed into Liberia and Guinea including women and children. 

The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 5 states that ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’, Article 9 states that ‘No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile’.

We therefore call upon the United Nations to affirm its commitment to the Human Rights Declaration and to immediately bring the crime perpetrators, including Gbango to justice.