Highlights

- SRSG tells journalists that UN is investigating sexual abuse allegations
- PDSRSG expected to attend closing ceremony of journalists forum
- UNOCI takes steps to defuse prevailing tension in Séguéla

SEA allegations

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Y.J Choi today held a press conference in response to allegations made in a report published by the British NGO Save the Children, which accused UNOCI peacekeepers of sexually abusing children. Mr. Choi told journalists that upon learning of the allegations, the Mission immediately asked the UN's investigating arm, the Office of Internal Oversight (OIOS) to launch an investigation. He stressed that UNOCI took the allegations extremely seriously considering that its role is to protect the vulnerable sections of Ivorian society, especially women and children. He concluded by saying that a suggestion by Save the Children UK to create an international surveillance organ, was an idea worth examining and that he would argue strongly in favour of establishing a mechanism of accountability.

Media forum

The Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Abou Moussa, was today due to attend the closing ceremony of a three-day forum on the mission of the media in an electoral period, organized by the Ministry of Communication and media professionals in Côte d'Ivoire, with the support of UNOCI. Draft recommendations made by the forum included ensuring that journalists have access to credible information and putting an end to articles that stir up hatred. The aim of the forum is to give participants the opportunity to reach an agreement on a strategy which encourages good journalistic practice during the electoral period.

Electoral

Negotiations on the adoption of a modus operandi for the identification and voters registration process are underway between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the National Statistics Institute (NSI) and the technical operator, SAGEM. Meanwhile, the setting up of local offices of the Independent Electoral Commission has made much progress with about 88% of the country already covered.

Security

In an effort to calm prevailing tension in Séguéla (north-west), following the dismissal of the zone commander, Zackaria Koné, UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday carried out a special rehearsal of their contingency plan within the camps of BANBATT in an exercise dubbed "Operation Thunderbolt". The rehearsal involved extra troops from Daloa (south west) and a helicopter flight over the town.

Residents in Gbapleu, near Duékoué (west) yesterday complained to a UNOCI patrol about extortion and robbery by unidentified armed bandits along the road leading to their village.

Arms embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully conducted arms embargo inspections at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (FDSCI) military camp in San Pedro and at its Gendarmerie Brigade in Abengourou (east). Meanwhile, a similar inspection was carried out at the camp of the infantry battalion of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) at Djebonoua (east)

Peacekeepers Day activities

As a way of marking International Peacekeepers Day in the regions, UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday organised a series of activities in collaboration with the local population. In Boudoukou, the GHANBATT Legal Officer gave a talk on the "The Role of the Youth in the Peace Process within the law" at the Lycee Moderne in the town. In Tiebissou, PAKBATT took part in a maintenance and clean-up campaign, organized by the administration of the local hospital, while BANBATT in Zuenoula (west) organised a lunch for members of the local authorities, traditional leaders and other dignitaries.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Right Office in Bouaké is following up on reports that an 18 year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in the city this week. Her body was discovered yesterday in an uninhabited house in the Belleville district of Bouaké. Police and medical officials are conducting an investigation to try to establish the facts surrounding the girl's death.

A human rights sensitisation tour by a theatre group called Manh Boya, organised by the Human Rights Division, reached the eastern town of Bondoukou yesterday. The event was attended by hundreds of people including members of the local authorities, traditional chiefs as well as representatives of women and youth groups. The theatre group, through the use of sketches, showed the kind of violence committed against women and children. The aim of the theatre tour is to raise awareness on the main human rights violations observed in various parts Cote d'Ivoire. It is part of the Mission's celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The group has already performed in Abidjan, Bouaké, Duékoué, Korhogo, Odienné, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro and San Pedro.

The right to individual and collective security continues to be seriously threatened in the western part of Cote d'Ivoire. On 27 May, two unidentified armed men attacked a public transport vehicle in Diahouin village, 15 km from Duékoué (west). A 40 year old woman was seriously injured in the attack and evacuated to Duékoué hospital. [Comment: The security situation in the former zone of confidence has been marked by armed attacks on transport vehicles. The assailants usually force the vehicle into the bush and rob passengers of their belongings. In most cases, passengers are injured, raped or killed. So far, the investigations launched by the local law enforcement authorities have not yielded tangible results and perpetrators continue to operate in total impunity].