Highlights

- Training seminar on the fight to end violence against women held in west
- UNOCI provides logistical support for electoral missions
- Sector West commander meets FAFN Chief of Staff

Training and sensitization

Some 200 people from the Bangolo area (west) today participated in a training and sensitization seminar organized by the Public Information Office to reinforce the capacity of community leaders in the fight against violence against women. Speaking during the opening ceremony, UNOCI's Regional Administrative Officer in Sector West, Matala Sy thanked the community for having agreed to host the event while stressing that without everyone's help and co-operation, the aim of the seminar would not succeed. PIO organized a similar training seminar in Bondoukou (east) on 23 June 2008.

Electoral

UNOCI yesterday agreed to provide logistical support to the Independent Electoral Commission for a three-day mission from 25 to 30 June 2008 to different parts of the country by teams who will be evaluate the state of potential co-ordination centres for the identification process. The process is due to start in July 2008. The Mission will transport the different teams by air and road during the operation.

Military

UNOCI's Sector East Commander, Brigadier-General Tariq Javed, today met with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) General Soumaila Bakayoko, during which they discussed the aftermath of the violent demonstrations by demobilized FAFN ex-combatants, the recurring criminal attacks in the area and security provisions for members of the newly established administration including préfets and sous-préfets of the Vallée du Bandama region. It should be recalled that following three days of violent demonstrations by the FAFN ex-combatants, a sous prefet and his wife were physically assaulted, resulting in a number of the state officials threatening to leave the area because they did not feel safe.

Security

Two public transport vehicles were yesterday attacked along the Korhogo-Boundiali road (north). One person was injured and one of the vehicles managed to escape. Meanwhile, a student travelling on a motorcycle from Odienne to Korhogo (north), was attacked by two masked men who stole 1,730,000 FCFA from him. He is believed to have been on his way to buy goods for his father.
Arms embargo
Arms embargo inspections were successfully carried out by UNOCI peacekeepers at the FAFN unit in Samantiguila, near Odienne (north), at its platoon in Varbo, near Bouna (north), and at its Infantry Detachment in Bassawa, 127 km from Bouaké (north). Similar inspections were also carried out at the Defence and Security Forces of Cote d'Ivoire's (FDSCI) Embargo Cell in San Pedro (south) and at the Gendarmerie Brigade in M`Bahiakro (east)

Human Rights

The Regional Human Rights Office in Odienné yesterday organized human rights training and sensitization session for 20 members of a local women's NGO called SOUTRA. The session covered the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Declaration on the Elimination of all Violence against Women. Particular emphasis was placed on female genital mutilation (FGM) and the right to education and birth registration for children. SOUTRA has set up clubs for former FGM practitioners, with the aim to using them to sensitize their peers and the community on the fight to eliminate the practice.