UN New York, 11 Jan 2008 - Late on January 11, UNDP's Morrison provided an answer to Inner City Press' question about UNDP funding the police force of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, which has been accused of rights violations:

"The info on Somalia you had requested is below.

"UNDP Somalia's Law Enforcement project is part of UNDP Rule of Law and Security program and aims at re-establishing an efficient and adequately equipped and housed professional civilian police force that restores peace while gaining trust of the community. With a clear focus on respect for human rights, the project has supported:

"training of nearly 3000 police personnel in 2006-7 construction/rehabilitation of major police training academies construction and rehabilitation of police stations in key locations setting up of Women and Children desks for the professional investigation of sexual offences and domestic violence

"An Internal Police Control Unit specialized training on criminal investigation equipment and materials to police strategic development plan for the Somali Police Force setting up of police advisory committees (PAC) to oversee the operation of the Police Stations, the PAC being the first step in the introduction of civilian oversight of policing issues. The project is funded by EC, UK Dfid, Norway, Sweden and Denmark."

Certain other questions were also posed to UNDP on the afternoon of January 9, and by the end of January 11 had not been answered, including about Sweden's reported cut of $10 million  in funding to UNDP due to its non-inclusion of human rights, and for a description of the role in security in Algeria of UNDP's Marc de Stanne de Bernis, including confirming or denying that he ever received requests to raise the threat level, or phase, in Algeria. Developing.

Source: Inner City Press