North-Kivu - 15 July 2015: A delegation from the Secretariat Office of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in charge of Due Diligence Policy was received by the Provincial Commissioner of the Congolese National Police PNC/ North Kivu, General AWACHANGO Vital, assisted by his close aids from Goma, Rutshuru and Masisi; the United Nations Police from HQ and Goma sector also attended the meeting.

The talks, inter alia, focused on the sensitization of the PNC/North-Kivu officials on the new normalized procedure aimed at ensuring coherent and efficient implementation of the Policy as part of the United Nations’ support to Non-UN forces. Under this policy, UN entities or components must ensure that its supports be provided in compliance with values and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, by virtue of the international law that recommends respect and promotion for humanitarian international law, human rights and international law on refugees.

The chief of the delegation, Mr. Michel BINON insisted on the need for joint planning PNC/MONUSCO Police on the identification of the needs for support, the evaluation risks and mitigating measures and to avert the heavy administrative procedures in implementing the new procedure.

General AWACHANGO applauded the new procedure which he said will ease the heavy process used in the past in the support provided by the United Nations to the PNC. To this end, he recommended a participatory approach between UNPOL and the PNC as key and reassured the delegation of his availability to accompany the new guidance to benefit the Congolese National Police at maximum.

On the eve, a similar sensitization meeting was held at MONUSCO Police Component HQ in Goma bringing together Police personnel from the United Nations, HQ and Goma sector around the same delegation and on the same theme. Practical issues were raised by the 2 parties which magnified the contribution of the meeting.

Fotabe Lemondem