Côte d’Ivoire / UNOCI receives Special Representative of the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, November 22, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom, on Tuesday began internal meetings with authorities of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), including the head of the mission, Bert Koenders, the Deputy Special Representative, Arnaud Akodjénou, Humanitarian Coordinator Ndolamb Ngokwey and Force Commander Gnakoudé Béréna.
« All these meetings are within the framework of my mandate, which is to fight against sexual violence committed against women in times of conflict, » Mrs Wallstrom said after the meetings. The aim, she said, was to better understand the situation and to have a better grasp of the challenges, through discussions with both UNOCI and the victims of sexual violence.
She stressed that her mission was motivated by the will to do everything possible for the establishment of preventive actions. “We shall hold discussions with the partners here in Côte d’Ivoire on how to respond to this problem, also in order to fight impunity,” she stressed. The Special Representative also announced that she would be travelling to Bouaké and Duékoué so as to have a better grasp of the needs on the ground.
Mrs Wallstrom’s agenda includes meetings with members of the Government, NGOs and other civil society groups, and members of the UN system in Côte d’Ivoire.
Appointed in February 2010 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Margot Wallstrom, a Swedish national, arrived in Abidjan on Monday 21 November for a week-long visit.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Côte d’Ivoire
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