COTE D’IVOIRE

Soldiers from the ‘Invisible Commandos,’ prepare an obstacle course at a middle school serving as a base, in the PK-18 area of the Abobo neighborhood, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tuesday, April 19, 2011. © 2011 AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Cote d’IvoireHuman rights activists say the culture of violence on campuses in Cote d’Ivoire’s… is pervasive, symptomatic of an overall breakdown in law and order since a coup in 1999 derailed decades of relative peace. Academic freedom has suffered along with other liberties, including guarantees of justice and the ability to move without hindrance across the country. Student uprising, political instability and social manipulation between government and rebel forces has left a hole in general society. Since 2010, there have been signs of improvement:• When conflict broke out following the disputed outcome of the 2010 presidential

elections, various military groups used at least 30 schools and teachers’ homes as shelter, observations posts, to store ammunition, and to train fighters.

• In 2011, 25 schools were occupied by uniformed men and armed groups. Of these cases, 23 schools were used, 3 of them as storage for weapons and 4 as collective graves. There was also one case of military use of schools in the Yopougon neighbourhood of Abidjan by Liberian mercenaries and pro-Gbagbo elements, including the Jeunes patriotes, was reported.

• The number of attacks against schools has significantly decreased with 7 verified cases in 2012, as opposed to 477 in 2011. The national armed forces used primary school and a children’s community education centre in Grabou. In addition, they erected checkpoints in the vicinity of four primary schools located in Touba, Ziriglo, Tao-Zeo and Keibly, putting children at risk of attack by armed elements.

• While all schools occupied by armed forces seem to have been liberated to date (January 2013), there are still approximately 10 schools in the West which are negatively affected by the presence of military checkpoints at the entrance of the schools. In addition, there has recently been a rise in physical attacks perpetrated against teachers, on their way to school, at school, or at their homes, by armed men.

Cote d’Ivoire Resources• Report: Children

and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General, April 2012

• Report: UNICEF Côte d’Ivoire Situation Report #35

• Report: Lessons in War: Military Use of Schools and Other Education Institutions during Conflict

• Article: In-depth: Youth in crisis: Coming of age in the 21st century