European Union assures aid to Cote d’Ivoire despite economic crisis; UN envoy warns on sexual violence ahead of legislative elections
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  • COTE D’IVOIRE

    The European Union president Herman Van Rompuy assured the visiting Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara that the EU would maintain aid to Cote d’Ivoire despite the current economic crisis. Trouble began in the country after former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after an election defeat in November 2010, and ended with Ouattara's UN-backed victory in April 2011. Earlier, the EU committed 125 million euros to five projects to help re-launch the economy and reconcile the divided country.1

    In another development, after her meeting with top Government ministers, senior police officials, the chairman of the national truth and reconciliation commission and many survivors of sexual violence, Margot Wallstrom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict urged the Government and all political leaders in Cote d’Ivoire to speak out against the scourge and ensure it is not used to intimidate people ahead of critical legislative elections scheduled to take place in December 2011. She stressed that "much more" was needed to assist survivors of sexual violence in Cote d’Ivoire, particularly in ensuring they have access to justice and helping them reintegrating into society.2

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