The first group of women gendarmes in Côte d'Ivoire have just been provided with brand new dormitories. The official handover of the building, which was rehabilitated and furnished by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), with financing from the Peace Building Fund took place at the Gendarmerie School of Côte d'Ivoire in Abidjan on Thursday, 25 February 2016.



The ceremony was attended by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, members of the Ivorian Government and several military and civilian officials.



In his welcome address, the Commander of the Gendarmerie School of Côte d'Ivoire, Colonel-major Alexandre Apalo Touré, explained that the event was important because it was part of the Government's Security Sector Reform (SSR). He then gave a brief presentation of his institution which trains officers and non-commissioned officers from the Côte d'Ivoire, as well as other countries in the sub-region such as Benin, Niger, Burkina and Togo.



«We are committed to take all necessary measures to ensure an exemplary integration of women so that the National Gendarmerie can have a brand new start », added the Chief Commander of National Gendarmerie of Côte d'Ivoire, General Gervais Kouakou Kouassi.



For the United Nations Resident Coordinator and co-president of the Peacebuilding Fund, Mr. Mbaye Babacar Cissé, the ceremony denoted the willingness of Côte d'Ivoire to promote gender equality in the Gendarmerie. He recalled that the rehabilitation of the building containing the dormitories for female non-commissioned officers came about after the implication of the United Nations Police, who obtained funding from the UNDP totaling 122 million francs CFA. The funds were used to build 20 rooms, 10 showers with toilets, a laundry room, a computer room and a multi-purpose hall for 160 persons.



The Special Representative, Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, said she was pleased to take part in a ceremony which « has a special symbolic character because it marks the official integration of women in the National Gendarmerie ». She recalled that UNOCI, which has been closely involved in SSR, had organized in this regard numerous seminars and carried many quick impact projects to benefit Ivorian security forces by providing funding estimated at more than 134 million de francs CFA.



The Minister delegated to the Defence in the President's Office, Mr. Alain Richard Donwahi, welcomed the fact that the National Gendarmerie, an elite force once considered the preserve of men, had started the irreversible process of integrating women.



Mr. Donwahi also promised that women gendarmes would not be confined to carrying out simple administrative tasks but will take part in the same activities as their brothers in arms.



For the 2015-2016 entry period, 36 young women were admitted to Gendarmerie School in Toroguhé (Daloa) and Abidjan; a number which is expected to increase in the future.



The ceremony concluded with a symbolic cutting of the ribbon and the handing over of the keys, as well as a visit of the building.



It should be noted that two other members of the Ivorian Government namely the Minister of Planning, Mrs Nialé Kaba, and also president of the Management Committee of the Peace Consolidation Fund and Mrs Euphrasie Yao Kouassi, the Minister in charge of the Promotion of Women, Family and Child Protection took part in the ceremony.