RES/31/29 Strengthening technical cooperation and advisory services for Guinea

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Human Rights Council Thirty-first session

Agenda item 10

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 24 March 2016

31/29. Strengthening technical cooperation and advisory services

for Guinea

The Human Rights Council, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant instruments on human rights,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, and Council

resolutions 13/21 of 26 March 2010, 16/36 of 25 March 2011, 19/30 of 23 March 2012,

23/23 of 14 June 2013, 25/35 of 28 March 2014 and 28/33 of 27 March 2015,

Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights

and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments on

human rights to which they are party,

Welcoming the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

on the situation of human rights in Guinea,1 in which he highlighted the progress made by

the country in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and

reforming the justice sector,

Noting with satisfaction the efforts made by Guinea and Guineans, with the support

of the international community, particularly the African Union and the Economic

Community of West African States, with regard to the establishment of democratic

institutions and strengthening of the rule of law,

Welcoming the progress made by the Guinean authorities in consolidating the

freedoms of opinion and expression,

Recalling the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry established by

the Secretary-General and supported by the African Union and the Economic Community

of West African States,

Recalling also that it is the first responsibility of the Government of Guinea to

protect its population, to conduct investigations into allegations of violations and abuses of

1 A/HRC/31/48.

United Nations A/HRC/RES/31/29

human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and to bring those

responsible to justice,

1. Acknowledges the efforts made by the Government of Guinea to strengthen

the rule of law and to improve the situation of human rights in the country;

2. Welcomes the mainstreaming of human rights in the reform of the security

sector;

3. Encourages the Guinean authorities to continue their efforts to mainstream

human rights into all government policies and to bring national legislation fully into line

with the international commitments of Guinea;

4. Calls upon the Guinean authorities to continue their efforts to consolidate

freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of expression, including

freedom of the media and protection of journalists and media workers, and notes in this

respect the establishment of the High Communications Authority;

5. Welcomes the start of the national consultation process for reconciliation, and

calls upon the Guinean authorities to make the process of justice, truth and reconciliation

fully operational;

6. Strongly reaffirms its commitment to accession to power through democratic

channels, and condemns all incitement to ethnic and/or racial hatred;

7. Welcomes the holding in October 2015 of fair presidential elections, and calls

upon the Government of Guinea to consolidate the democratic electoral framework,

particularly in view of the upcoming municipal and local elections, in line with the inter-

Guinean political agreement of 20 August 2015;

8. Urges all political actors to continue to engage actively and in good faith in

the political dialogue, and to be actively involved in the process of national reconciliation;

9. Encourages the Government of Guinea to make operational the national

commission for reflection and prevention created in 2013 to tackle the phenomenon of

violence;

10. Welcomes the efforts made by the Government of Guinea within the

framework of the reform of the security and defence forces, which includes respect for

human rights and guarantees the exercise of civil and political rights, and calls upon the

Government to continue the training of security forces in the field of human rights;

11. Also welcomes the progress made within the framework of the reform of the

justice sector and the strengthening of the rule of law, including the establishment of the

Supreme Judicial Council, the improvement in working conditions for judges, the creation

of the Constitutional Court and the establishment of the Court of Auditors;

12. Encourages the Government of Guinea to adopt and to implement reforms to

strengthen the administration of justice in order to combat impunity and to consolidate

respect for human rights;

13. Calls upon the Government of Guinea to ensure that the national institution

of human rights is established in accordance with the principles relating to the status of

national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles);

14. Encourages the Government of Guinea to continue its efforts in the fight

against impunity, particularly court proceedings initiated with respect to alleged violence

by security forces, including in 2007 and 2013;

15. Urges the Government of Guinea to take the following additional measures:

(a) To support the work of the panel of judges appointed to investigate the events

of 28 September 2009 and to speed up judicial proceedings against those responsible for the

violence, including acts of sexual violence committed against women and young girls;

(b) To ensure that the panel of judges is provided with the means and security

conditions necessary to enable it to fulfil its mandate effectively;

(c) To ensure the organization and conduct of the trial relating to the events of

28 September 2009;

(d) To ensure the security and protection of witnesses and victims, and to

provide them with appropriate assistance and reparation, including in the form of medical

aid and psychological support;

(e) To compensate the families of victims who died as a result of the events of

28 September 2009, and to provide reparations to the injured for physical and psychological

suffering inflicted upon them;

16. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Guinea;1

17. Strongly reiterates its call upon the international community:

(a) To provide the Government of Guinea with appropriate assistance to promote

respect for human rights, the fight against impunity and reform of the security and justice

sector, and ongoing initiatives to promote truth, justice and national reconciliation;

(b) To support the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights in Guinea;

18. Invites the High Commissioner to report to the Council at its thirty-fourth

session on the evaluation of the situation of human rights and the activities of the Office of

the High Commissioner in Guinea;

19. Decides to organize, at its thirty-fourth session, an interactive dialogue in the

presence of all interested parties on the implementation of the present resolution, with

particular emphasis on the fight against impunity;

20. Also decides to remain seized of this matter.

64th meeting

24 March 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]