Some 50 members of the Ivorian Armed Forces in Toulepleu were on 2 October 2014 drilled by human rights officials of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on the prevention of gender-based violence.



The soldiers were educated on the basic notions of gender and gender-based violence (GBV) in order to enable them avoid any conduct, acts and offences that could be qualified as GBV in the work place or in their daily lives. The organisers hoped this would enable the military contribute to the prevention of GBV in their host communities.



A representative of UNOCI Human Rights division, Edouard Munyeshuli defined the concept of GBV as "any act, be it physical, psychological, sexual or economic, exercised against a person because of his sex." He mentioned sexual abuse and exploitation against children, domestic rape and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriage as constituting GBV.



Lt. Ndah kakou of the national Marine detachment in Toulepleu said the training was highly appreciated. "Being men in uniform, some of our colleagues tend to think that they were permitted to do anything. This type of education enables us realize that we are not above the law and at the same time teaches us the basics of exemplary conduct in the exercise of our duties and among members of the society."