In 2010, Côte d’Ivoire had a civil war between the former president and the newly elected president when former President Gbagbo refused to step down for President Ouattara. Recently, there has been a call for even human rights accusations and trials. President Ouattara has been diligent in handling human rights abused on Gbagbo’s side, but has slacked on his own where there many as well. There were several murders and armed conflicts during the civil war that must be brought to justice as well as hundreds of rapes on both sides. These rapes were often done on religious, racial, and political lines for the most part and many women would be gang raped by an entire group of soldiers, sometimes only for wearing a shirt in support of one president or the other. President Ouattara may create a new divide in the country if he does not take the action needed.
Violations here are the right to life, right to security of self, freedom of religion and political views. Right to life is pretty self explanatory due to the mass amounts of killings during the civil war. Right to security of self falls with the rape problems. Women should be able to feel safe when moving about their country and the mere fact that so many women were raped in such a short time. Freedom of religion and political views is obvious since people were targeted for these while choosing victims to the rapes and murders.
I cannot understand the reasons for Ouattara not charging everyone involved. I understand that several of these were also his supporters, but when it comes to human rights violations there must be a line drawn. It cannot be acceptable in any case for someone to commit such inhumane acts just because they support the winning side. There are just too many types of violations here to let it slide especially since it was a civil war situation. To make people understand that the President only worries about the people he must show that regardless of your affiliation if you commit a crime you will be tried. You must make the people feel safe.
Should Ouattara allow his supporters to slip through the cracks? What could the allowance of this cause in Côte d’Ivoire? What can be done to make the people feel safe?
What needs to happen here is those responsible need to be held accountable, whether or not they are supporters or constituents of the current head of state. If they are not, the legitimacy of the ruling power may be in question. Women have been a tool of war in this area for a long time, and it is essential that justice is done for these people who were violated; they need to feel like they can walk free without worrying about being violated by a man who does not fear consequences.
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