PRM SUPPORT FOR THE DETACHEMENT INTEGRE DE

UNCLAS STATE 095072 SIPDIS NDJAMENA FOR REFCOORD GENEVA FOR RMA USEU FOR BTHOMAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD MARR PREF PREL SUBJECT: PRM SUPPORT FOR THE DETACHEMENT INTEGRE DE SECURITE ¶1. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) has agreed to contribute $2,000,000 to the United Nations MINURCAT Trust Fund for the support of activities of the Dtachement Intgr de Scurit (DIS) -- the special Chadian police force. This is the second such contribution made by the United States. ¶2. The DIS is an important partner to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). Together with a contingent of UN Police (UNPOL),which provides mentorship and ongoing training, the DIS provides valuable security for some 250,000 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad as well as tens of thousands of Chadian IDPs. They also contribute to the protection of humanitarian staff and assets in the towns and rural areas surrounding the refugee camps. ¶3. Of particular importance is the presence of female DIS officers in the camps. This has greatly improved the capability of Chadian authorities to respond to cases of domestic violence, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in the camps in a manner than respects the rights and dignity of the victims. PRM hopes the experience of the DIS in fighting GBV will permeate other elements of Chadian security and police forces, raising their standards of performance and professionalism. ¶4. Finally, it is important to point out that the DIS still has room to improve. We applaud MINURCAT for its work in training the DIS and urge them to redouble their efforts -- together with UNPOL -- in building the capacity of the DIS. We also urge the Chadian authorities to increase their own support for the DIS, both in terms of financing as well as equipping. CLINTON