UNOCI helps national police reconcile with the population

The Public Information Office of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), has been organizing public events aimed at bringing the national police closer to the population in a convivial atmosphere marked by panel discussions, sporting and cultural activities.

This outreach initiative, which began a year ago, is in response to a deteriorating security situation, human rights violations and a lack of confidence between the population and the national Police Force since the military-political conflict and the post-electoral crisis that the country has gone through during the past two decades. The aim is to restore the authority and legitimacy of the Police and to reestablish the social contract between the Police and citizens.

The climax of this initiative was marked by a sensitization campaign held between 28 and 29 September and 5 and 6 October 2013 in seven different police stations in the Abidjan neighbourhoods of Treichville, Marcory and Yopougon Toit-Rouges.

The public relations initiative funded by the European Union to the tune of 1.4 billion FCFA and implemented by UNDP and UNOCI, includes the rehabilitation of eight police stations, equipping police stations with office and computer facilities, communication and transmission equipment and vehicles. The programme also put emphasis on capacity-building and professional training of Ivorian police officers by UN Police.