Highlights

- UNOCI peacekeepers to receive and transport arms handed in by militias
- Cattle breeder shoots farmer in Bouake area following dispute

DDM

UNOCI peacekeepers would be in charge of receiving and transporting arms and ammunition handed in by militias during the disarmament and dismantling of militia (DDM) process. Meanwhile in Daloa (centre west) officials from the Integrated Command Centre (ICC) have reported that a significant number of arms and ammunition had been handed in during the profiling of militias operation in the area. The arms were handed in by members of the Front pour la Libération de Vavoua (FLV). Militias in the Zaibo and Issia areas were profiled today which was the last day of the operation in the area.

DDR

The Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) section along with the disarmament cell of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Programme national de réhabilitation et de réinsertion communautaire (PNRRC) and the Bureau de gestion des démobilisés (BGD) in Bouaké, yesterday began a three-day joint mission to Kani, Séguéla and Vavoua (centre west) to sensitize ex-combatants on the 1000 microprojects to help them reintegrate into society.

Security

A cattle breeder was allegedly shot by a farmer in Toumbokro village on the Bouaké - Katiola road following a dispute. According to villagers, who spoke to UNPOL, the two men had argued over the destruction of the farmer's crops by cattle owned by the pastoralist. Following the tension which resulted after the incident, authorities decided to briefly suspend preparations for the identification and voter registration operation.

Human Rights

The Human Rights Division in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission and a local NGO "OIS-Afrique", conducted several human rights awareness-raising workshops from 12 to 14 February 2009, in Abidjan, Bouaké and Odienné for 230 participants, including members of human rights clubs and NGO representatives. The sessions focused on the role of human rights clubs in the school environment, social cohesion, female genital mutilation and gender-based violence.

A local NGO called Africa Vision has reported to the Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné that some 20 young girls were being prepared for female genital mutilation (FGM) in Siakoro Soukoura village, situated 70 km south-west of the northern city. A young girl who has been working as a house girl in Odienné was set to also join the group.