The Human Rights Division of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), organised a seminar on the « The Role and Responsibility of a Human Rights Institution » from 8 to 10 June 2015 in Korhogo, situated at 580 km north of Abidjan.



The aim of the session was to strengthen the capacity of eight regional human rights commissioners and 22 field agents from the Savanes District on promoting and protecting human rights by highlighting their roles and responsibilities in this regard.



UNOCI Human Rights Officer and trainer, Salif Boité, said it was necessary to strengthen the capacity of the Regional Human Rights Commission of Poro in report writing in preparation for forthcoming elections. The training sessions provided the opportunity for participants to make pertinent recommendations and carry out advocacy with the Government with regard to human rights policy in Côte d'Ivoire. « The forthcoming elections provide an opportunity to assess how effective regional commissions are in monitoring human rights in an electoral period, especially with regard to freedom of movement and expression, the principle of equality and the freedom to vote, » he said.



For his part, the president of the Regional Human Rights Commission of Poro, Yacouba Ouattara, the training provided an opportunity for participants to better understand the role of the a national human rights institution, methods of investigation and how to promote and protect human rights. «From now on we know that our role is not to replace the security forces but to observe and report, and carry out human rights advocacy in case of any violation, » he added.



The seminar focuses on six modules :''National human rights institutions'' ; ''Evaluation criteria of a national human rights institution » ; ''Promotion and protection of human rights by the National Human Rights Commission)'' ; « Monitoring human rights protection mechanisms by the National Commission'' ; ''The methodology of human rights monitoring ; « Human Rights investigation and advocacy techniques''.