Mali: Information on the Association for the Defence of Victims of Repression (ADVR)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MLI27910.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mali: Information on the Association for the Defence of Victims of Repression (ADVR), 1 October 1997, MLI27910.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abfa18.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A 21 August 1991 article in The Independent states that an "association for the defence of victims of repression" was formed in order to seek justice for the victims of the violent events preceding the overthrow of Malian president Moussa Traore in March 1991. Over 200 people reportedly died in mass protests and riots during the four days before President Traore was deposed (Reuters 26 Nov. 1992). According to an 11 June 1992 article in Le Monde, some members of the [translation] Association of Victims of Repression ("Association des victimes de la repression" - ADVR) complained that files relating to victims of the violent events of March 1991, including medical certificates, had been stored in army camps without their knowledge ("à leur insu"). This observation was made in the context of a discussion of preparations for trials of members of the former government for atrocities and the influence of the army in Mali. Please see the attached text of the article for details. According to a 26 November 1992 Reuters dispatch, lawyers for the Association of the Defence of the Victims of Repression boycotted the opening of the trial of former president Traore because they were not satisfied with the government's offer of compensation for deaths and permanent injuries sustained in March 1991. Traore was accused along with three other former government officials of 106 counts of murder (ibid.). A 27 November 1992 Reuters dispatch reported that lawyers for the Association for the Defence of the Victims of Repression attended the second day of Traore's trial after the government agreed to increase the compensation to families of people killed from seven million CFA ($26,000) to ten million CFA ($37,000).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Independent [London]. 21 August 1991. Chris Timpson. "Victims Bestow Justice on Mali's Fallen Dictator; Malians Will Not Resort to Gen Traore's Methods at His Trial." (NEXIS)
Le Monde [Paris]. 11 June 1992. Catherine Simon. "Mali: après l'investiture du président Konare l'armée continue de peser fortement sur la vie politique." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 27 November 1992. BC Cycle. "Trial of Mali's Deposed President Adjourned." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 November 1992. BC Cycle. "Victims' Lawyers Boycott Ousted Mali Leader Trial." (NEXIS)
Attachment
Le Monde [Paris]. 11 June 1992. Catherine Simon. "Mali: après l'investiture du président Konare l'armée continue de peser fortement sur la vie politique." (NEXIS)
