International Financial Institutions On March 1, 2001, the World Bank froze all loans and credits to the Côte d’Ivoire, since its loans were overdue by six months. The Bank’s programs to the Côte d’Ivoire were suspended in October 2000, when the arrears exceeded the 60-day limit. Accordingly, all disbursements were suspended and no new operations can move forward. The Bank will not resume assistance until the arrears are cleared.153 The Bank has been holding discussions with the Ivorian government on ways to reform the economy and fight corruption, but these have not included human rights criteria. The International Monetary Fund’s program with Côte d’Ivoire has been frozen since 1998 due to concerns over corruption and mismanagement by the Côte d’Ivoire government. On July 2, 2001, the government of the Côte d’Ivoire and the IMF signed an agreement for a staff-monitored program, which could lead to new loans in three to six months.154 The success of this program will have important implications for the renewal of other international assistance, including from the E.U. African Commission The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights sent a mission to Côte d’Ivoire on a “promotional visit” in March 2001, consisting of the chair of the Commission, Victor Dankwa, and commissioners Kamel Rezzag-Bara and Jainaba Johm. The mission met with government ministers and officials, civil society representatives and political parties. In an oral report to the 29th ordinary session of the commission in Tripoli, Libya, April 2001, the chair noted that serious violations had taken place in Côte d’Ivoire including rapes, extrajudicial executions, and ethnic intolerance. A written report was not made available of the mission’s findings.155 X. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was researched and written by Corinne Dufka, consultant to the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. Janet Fleischman, Washington Director for the Africa Division, contributed to the writing of the section on the international community’s response. Additional research was conducted by Ellen Vermeulen, Leslie Bumstead and Mamina Aidara. The report was edited by Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa Division; Bronwen Manby, deputy director of the Africa Division; Michael McClintock, deputy program director; and Wilder Taylor, general counsel. The report was translated into French by Claire Moncouyoux, Claire Jacqmin, and Soninka Dupeyron and European Translation Centre Ltd. and proofread by Olivier Bercault. Invaluable production assistance was provided by Jeff Scott, associate for the Africa Division; Maria BurnettGaudiani, intern for the Africa Division, Patrick Minges, publications director and Fitzroy Hepkins, mail manager. Research for the report was conducted on two field missions to Côte d’Ivoire between November 2000 and February 2001, during which several hundred interviews with witnesses, victims, government and political party officials, human rights activists, medical personnel and journalists, were conducted. The names of all witnesses and survivors, except where noted, have been withheld in order to protect their identity and ensure their privacy. Human Rights Watch acknowledges with gratitude the hospital staff, political activists, humanitarian workers and human rights activists, particularly those in the Ivorian Movement of Human Rights, for their invaluable assistance. Most importantly, Human Rights Watch wishes to thank the victims and witnesses of human rights abuses who took the time to be interviewed, in the hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice and human rights for all in the Côte d’Ivoire will be respected. 153 The World Bank Group, “World Bank Places Côte d’Ivoire in Non-Payment Status,” News Release No: 2001/251/AFR, March 1, 2001. 154 “Ivory Coast, IMF to Sign Program Monday,” Reuters, July 2, 2001. 155 Transcript of commission session taken by Rachel Murray, Queen’s University Belfast, supplied to Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch 67 August 2001, Vol. 13, No. 6(A)