Title: Capacity building of MONUSCO prison officers: Sharing experiences in the service of peace
Intro: As part of their peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, around twenty prison officers from different African countries recently strengthened their skills through an experience-sharing program. This initiative, organized by the MONUSCO Prison Administration Support Unit, aimed to improve their capacity to ensure the security and protection of Congolese civilians during the transition period of the UN mission.
Development: During this four-day training, MONUSCO correctional officers had the opportunity to interact with instructors from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Through this sharing of experiences, they were able to benefit from the expertise of UNITAR instructors while sharing their own knowledge and experiences in the field.
The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, underlined the importance of this initiative by encouraging participants to make the most of this exchange to strengthen the civilian protection system. He particularly insisted on the importance of international cooperation in building lasting peace.
For his part, Apollinaire Ndaymirije, UNITAR instructor, said he was satisfied with this collaboration and underlined the mutual enrichment that resulted from it. According to him, MONUSCO officers were willing to share their experiences through simulation exercises, case studies and group work, which allowed all participants to learn from each other.
Conclusion: This experience-sharing program between MONUSCO prison officers and UNITAR instructors illustrates the importance of continuing training and international cooperation in the field of security and justice. By strengthening their skills, these officers are better prepared to assume their responsibilities and contribute to building lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.