UNOCI organises seminar on upgrading quality of reintegration programme for ex-combatants

A seminar to introduce gender issues, the fight against gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS in the reintegration programme for ex-combatants was organised on 21 November in Man by the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) section of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

Twenty-one ex-combatants including seven women from UNOCI-financed community reinsertion projects in the Man area, communication officers and project managers from the regional office of the national Authority for DDR (ADDR) in the West, ADDR branch managers from Danane, Guiglo and Duekoue as well as two civil servants of the Ivorian Ministry of Women, Family and Children's Affairs working with the social Centre in Man took part in the seminar.

The seminar highlighted the main principles and specific questions related to gender equality, challenges and inclusion of gender perspectives in community-based projects.

The seminar was held within the context of a sustained campaign by the UN Mission aimed at achieving set objectives for the community reinsertion projects entirely financed by UNOCI through its DDR section in support of the ADDR.