Articles and Related Media

CSC in Côte d'Ivoire

By Torwoli Dzuali, International Relations
(October 2005)

The West African republic of Côte d'Ivoire lies on the western bulge of the continent, nestled between neighbouring countries Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. It is a nation that has, over the last few decades, enjoyed much prosperity and stability; that is until September 2002, when rebel forces seized the country's north and attempted to overthrow the government of President Laurent Gbagbo.

What followed was an eruption of social and political unrest as Gbagbo loyalists clashed with rebel forces dragging the nation through a series of upheavals and creating division amongst its people. With the conflict threatening to spill over and affect neighbouring regions, African Union leaders intervened and a peace agreement was negotiated.

Against this backdrop the United Nations established the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in 2004, a mission to assist in the re-establishment of judicial authority and the rule of law throughout the country.

Vital to the success of this process is the need for a functioning corrections system that meets the needs of Ivorien citizens, responds to the rule of law and respects international standards of human rights. Canada is committed to the promotion of these values and is internationally recognized as a world leader in the field of corrections. Canada also has long standing bilateral relations with Côte d'Ivoire, and under these considerations has been deemed an appropriate partner to the UNOCI on this mission.

Under the complete support and funding of Foreign Affairs Canada, CSC has deployed a Corrections Training and Development Officer to Côte d'Ivoire to assist the UNOCI with its mandate. Danielle Boisvert, Director of the Correctional Management Learning Centre (Cornwall, Ontario) arrived in Côte d'Ivoire last August, and will be on assignment for a year till August 2006.

Danielle is currently located in the nation's capital, Abidjan, and is fast becoming acquainted with Ivorien society. "The Ivorien people are very warm and smile almost all the time" she says. "Most just want peace to return to their country and many just want to return to their villages and their homes from which they were forced as a result of the war".

Also in Abidjan is John Rose, a former CSC employee, retired since 2004. John has previously been involved in other overseas projects, including a deployment to assist with the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in 1999. He currently heads the Prison Advisory Unit in Côte d'Ivoire and will be responsible for the management of UNOCI's corrections mandate.

Danielle will be working closely with John, along with Ivorien government officials, national prison professionals and international training agencies to implement reforms within Côte d'Ivoire's prison administration. She will provide training and development assistance to national prison management personnel and build upon staff capacity to design, deliver and evaluate their own programs.

Danielle is pleased to be a part of this mission and looks forward to continuing the work that she has begun in Côte d'Ivoire. Her contributions to the strengthening and reform of Ivorien corrections will be vital to the overall re-establishment of judicial authority and rule of law throughout the country.

"My international colleagues [here] often mention that Canada is very well recognized within their own countries in terms of our correctional practices and our training" says Danielle. "I am quite proud that the reputation of my country reflects so very well on me as member of this unit and I hope that by the time I leave here, the Ivorien government will also reflect fondly on Canada's contribution to its prison system."

CSC is pleased to be a part of this process and wishes Danielle all the best of luck and success!