Highlights

-SRSG tells female elected officials that their role in peace process is crucial
- Forces Nouvelles launches sensitization campaign centralization of state finances

SRSG's activities

The Special Representative of Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire (SRSG), Y.J. Choi, today told a delegation of 20 women from the General Union of Elected Municipal Officers of Côte d'Ivoire (UGEMCI) that their role in the Ivorian peace process was crucial. Mr. Choi said that the involvement of women in the political process was important for development, adding that as many women as possible should participate in the electoral process. The spokeswoman for the delegation told the SRSG that they had come to pledge their support for the Mission's contribution to bringing peace back to their country.

Yesterday, at the end of a meeting with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, SRSG Choi declared that the identification operation should be appreciated for the important process that it is. The chief of UNOCI was meeting the Ivorian head of state, a day after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1865 which extended UNOCI's mandate until 31 July 2009. They also discussed the identification and voter registration operation as well as disarmament and elections.

Restoration of state authority

A two-week sensitization campaign on the centralization of the state treasury was launched in Bouaké today. The campaign is intended to raise awareness and inform people and local businesses that they no longer pay their taxes and other financial obligations to the Forces Nouvelles but instead to government departments. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr. Moussa Dosso, the Minister of Vocational Training and Financial Secretary of the Forces Nouvelles (FN) called on everyone to support the changes and to strictly abide by them. By doing so, they would be supporting the efforts of Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to translate words into action in Forces Nouvelles zones.

Electoral process

An unknown number of computers belonging to the National Statistics Institute (INS) and destined for use in the identification and voter registration operation were stolen in Korhogo last night. Meanwhile more than 4 million Ivorians have been identified so far, according to UNOCI.

Information and sensitisation

Some 2000 school children and their teachers yesterday participated in a school caravan for peace organised by UNOCI in Adzopé, 104 north east of Abidjan. The deputy commissioner of UNPOL told the school children that the caravan was an invitation to them to get on the road to peace, while adding that their country should be able to count on their support and commitment for the peace process. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Regional Director of Education (DREN) thanked UNOCI for having chosen Adzopé to organize its school caravan and for all its work in Cote d'Ivoire to help Ivorians. A newly-established UNOCI police post and military camp in Adzopé were also inaugurated on the same day.

Arms Embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d'Ivoire's (FDS-CI) air base in Port Bouet, at their gendarmerie brigade in Pehe, near Duekoue (west), as well as at the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles' (FAFN) unit in Boundiali (north) and its 68th battalion in Mahapleu (west).

Humanitarian

Hundreds of people in Oumé, 80 km from Yamoussoukro, today received free medical consultation and medicines organized by UNOCI troops as a prelude to a civil society forum to be held in the town on 30 January 2009.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné on 27 January 2009, participated in the regional and departmental planning meeting convened by local and education authorities to discuss the opening of new primary and secondary schools in the Denguélé region for the academic year 2009-2010. This local initiative marks a positive development towards fulfilling children's right to education in the region which has been deprived of adequate school facilities for several years. Many children have not had access to education and those who have, had to walk more than five to 10 km a day to attend the nearest school. The problem was further exacerbated by the fact that many children do not have birth certificates and could therefore not enroll in schools. Another educational programme known as "School for all" was launched in Gbaga, a village located 32 km north of Odienné, on 26 January 2009. It would enable children aged between 9 and 13 to attend school. The Office took the opportunity to sensitise about 1000 people who attended the ceremony, on basic human rights with special emphasis on the right to education.