« The significant reduction in the rate of human rights violations by members of the FRCI is an indicator that more and more the military respect human rights because they have been trained and sensitised » : a declaration made by the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, Simon Munzu, on Wednesday, 9 March 2016.

He was speaking after the monthly meeting of the Joint Mechansim established between the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) and the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, held at the headquarters of the FRCI’s 4th Military Region in Korhogo, a locality situated at 580 km north of Abidjan.

The aim of the meeting was to follow up on cases of human rights violations committed by the FRCI, in order to promote professionalism and strengthen good behaviour in the Ivorian Army, Mr. Munzu explained to members of the press. One of the ways of doing so, according to participants at the meeting, is to sensitise and build capacity among FRCI soldiers.

According to UNOCI’s Human Rights Officer based in Korhogo, Salif Boité, the UN Mission has started training FRCI focal points since February 2016, not only to identify and submit cases of human rights violations to the Joint Mechanism but also to sensitise the soldiers in their respective units to respect these rights. « These focal points are very conversant with human rights principles and will integrate this knowledge as part of their military training», he added.

Simon Munzu, who was accompanied by commanders of the 4th Military Region and 4th infantry battalion in Korhogo, as well as the acting president of the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire, expressed the hope that the good collaboration between UNOCI, the FRCI and the Commission will continue in order to ensure the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the Poro Region.