Counseling offices for victims of gender-based violence to be opened very soon.

Côte d’Ivoire, like many other countries which have experienced political, military and civilian crisis, faces many challenges regarding security, reconciliation, forgiveness and support for victims, including minors and women who have experienced gender based violence. In view of supporting such cases, the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), through its Police component (UNPOL) and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in Cote d’Ivoire (UNDP), will fund twelve (12) pilot counseling offices for vulnerable victims (Gender desk) Nine (9) of those offices will be set up at Police stations and three (3) within the Gendarmerie brigades.

It is in this context that on 30 June 2016, a joint mission composed of the representatives of the National Police Executive Board (NPD), the Commander in Chief of the National Gendarmerie (CSGN), UNDP and UNPOL, visited a few Police stations and Gendarmerie units in Abidjan to evaluate the ongoing construction works.

At the end of this tour, the joint mission carried out the provisional reception of the 15th and 36th “arrondissement” Police stations and the final of the Gendarmerie brigade of Abobo.

It is to be noted that this initiative will be strengthened by another funding from the European Union that plans to expand the settlement of these gender desks or victims’ counseling offices, to all Police stations in Cote d’Ivoire.