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Marie-Thérèse Bocoum, also known as Marie-Thérèse Keïta-Bocoum, is the United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. Educated in France and Côte d’Ivoire, she received the National Order of Côte d’Ivoire in 2014.

Education and career

Marie-Thérèse Bocoum studied a PhD in contemporary history at University of Aix-Marseille I in France. [1] She then taught at the University of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. [2] She was married to Balla Keïta, Minister of Education under the Houphouët Boigny administration in Côte d’Ivoire, who was killed in 2002. [3] [4]

Bocoum travelled to Burundi in 2003 as United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the country. [5] She also worked for the United Nations in Darfur. [2] She was appointed as United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2014. [1] She then travelled to CAR to investigate human rights abuses such as sexual violence and accusations of witchcraft. [6] She again visited CAR in 2016 and 2017, reporting back to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017. [2] She called upon both the government of CAR and the international community to take action to prevent human rights abuses in the country. [7] She reported back to the Council again in 2019 and called on all participating parties to follow the peace process. [8] [9] Following the signing of peace accords in Khartoum, she returned to CAR. [10]

Awards and recognition

Bocoum received the National Order of Côte d’Ivoire in 2014. [11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ms. Marie-Therese Keita-Bocoum". OHCHR. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Visit to CAR: UN expert to follow up on human rights recommendations". OHCHR. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ Yao, Eugène. "Centrafrique: L'Ivoirienne Balla Keita-Bocoum chargé d'appuyer les nouvelles autorités de la transition". Fratmat. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ Zabril, Koukougnon (5 August 2002). "Cote d'Ivoire: Mort affreuse de l'ancien ministre d'Houphouët". All Africa. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Halfway through transitional period, peace remains elusive - Continued". The New Humanitarian. 30 May 2003. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Où en sont les droits de l'Homme en Centrafrique?". Deutsche Welle (in French). RCA. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Central African Republic: CAR: UN Expert calls for end to impunity". CSW. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Central African Republic: The United Nations expert reiterates the importance of accompanying peace efforts with justice measures to end violence and move towards reconciliation and peace". OHCHR. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  9. ^ Diarra, Mamadou (4 February 2019). "Mali : Experte de l'ONU, Marie-Thérèse Keita-Bocoum sur la situation centrafricaine : « Les parties doivent prendre un engagement sincère et urgent en faveur du retour de la sécurité dans le pays »". Le Pays. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ "UN expert to assess the human rights situation in Central African Republic - Central African Republic". Relief Web. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  11. ^ Dion, Olivier (17 January 2014). "Grande Chancellerie / Ordre national et Ordre du mérite ivoirien: Adama Bictogo et 86 personnalités distingués, dont un à titre posthume - Abidjan.net News". news.abidjan.net (in French). Retrieved 27 December 2021.