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UN welcomes Cote d'Ivoire's new commitment to end sexual violence

Xinhua, June 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, on Thursday welcomed a new commitment by Cote d'Ivoire to end sexual violence, said a UN spokesman at a daily news briefing.

The special representative "welcomed the signed commitment of 47 commanders from the Forces Rpublicaines de Cote d'Ivoire ( FRCI) to fight against sexual violence and ensure respect for international human rights and humanitarian law within all the units under their command," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary-general.

The special envoy said this signing was another concrete step by Cote d'Ivoire in consolidating the gains achieved since the end of the conflict, and stressed that the chain of command must be fully engaged to work in ending the involvement of soldiers in sexual violence.

Also on Thursday, the Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) for another year, until June 30, 2016.

Security Council established the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire in April 2004 with a mandate to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003, according to UN website.

Following the 2010 Presidential election and the ensuing political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, UNOCI has remained on the ground to protect civilians, provide good offices, support the Ivorian government in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants as well as on security sector reform, and monitor and promote human rights. Enditem