Highlights

- SRSG attends UN mission chiefs' meeting in Dakar
- Commissions on reconstitution of civil registries start work today

Political

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, left today for a meeting of heads of UN missions in West Africa in Dakar, Senegal. Mr. Choi will inform participants on the evolution of the Ivorian peace process, with regard to the progress and challenges involved in preparations for elections, after the signing of the 4th Supplementary Agreement of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement on 22 December 2008 and the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1865 on 27 January 2009.
A report on the conference of Force Commanders in UN missions in West Africa, which was held in Monrovia, Liberia earlier this week, will also be presented to participants.

Electoral process

The commissions charged with overseeing the reconstitution of civil registries all over the country were due to start work today. They are designed to assess requests from individuals missing from registries. If approved, these requests would then be forwarded to a tribunal for legal validation and inclusion in the civil registry. UNOPS has already transported the necessary hardware for establishing the reconstitution commissions and has sent the lists of lost or destroyed civil registries to the sub-prefectures. UNOCI's Rule of Law section and UNOPs are helping the Ivorian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to prepare detailed guidelines for the commissions and courts to follow in connection with the reconstitution process.

Security

UNOCI Military Observers yesterday reported that members of a militia group named Comité d'Appui à la Sécurisation des Biens et des Personnes en Milieu Rural, were openly extorting money from any people and vehicles at a checkpoint along the Bangolo – Man road in western Côte d'Ivoire. Members of the group carry ID badges,w hich they claimed are recognized by the local Mixed Brigade.

Arms Embargo

UNOCI peacekeepers yesterday successfully carried out arms embargo inspections at the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d'Ivoire's (FDSCI) parachute commandos of the first battalion in Akouédo, Abidjan, at its Rapid Intervention Detachment in Sinfra (centre west), at its gendarmerie brigades in Toulepleu (west) and Soubre (south west) as well as at the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles' (FAFN) 38th battalion in Sakassou, at its detachment in Sucaf, at its camp in Tengrela (north) and at its Unit in Worfla, near Seguela (centre west).

Humanitarian

A youth centre built by the Mission's Beninois battalion (BENINBATT) and financed through its Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, was handed over to local authorities in Nicla, Guiglo yesterday. During the ceremony, UNOCI was praised for its contribution to the search for lasting peace in Côte d'Ivoire.

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Duékoué on 3 February 2009 met with the local police commissioner to discuss the case of a pregnant 17-year-old girl, who was beaten unconscious on 30 January 2009, during an armed robbery at her residence. The victim was treated at a local hospital.

On 4 February 2009, the Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné organised a human rights awareness campaign in Gbondiedougou, a village located 52 km south of Odienné. Some 42 participants, including traditional leaders, women and children attended the session which focused on the Convention of the Rights of the Child with particular emphasis on the right to education and non-discrimination against young girls. After the session, participants resolved to open a community-based primary school to facilitate access to education for about 52 children.