Mixed Unit of Rapid Intervention and Investigation of Sexual Violence against Women and Children

Brief Description

The Mixed Unit of Rapid Intervention and Investigation of Sexual Violence against Women and Children (Unité Mixte d'Intervention Rapide et de Répression des violences sexuelles faites aux femmes et aux enfants -UMIRR) was set up by Decree n°15.007 of 8 January 2015 followed by Inter-ministerial Order n°16/958 of 09 December 2016 amending and supplementing certain provisions of Order n°16/003 of 29 February 2016 on the organisation and operation of the UMIRR. UMIRR's mission is to prevent and repress all forms of sexual violence committed against women and children, including widows and orphans. A unit with National Competence, currently based in Bangui, the UMIRR works in collaboration with the other FSI (Internal Security Force), Brigades and Police Stations in the interior of the country. It is placed under the joint authority of the Ministers of Justice and Public Security, who work closely with the Ministries of Social Affairs and Public Health. The UMIRR has a wide range of staff, chosen according to the specific nature of the unit's mission and the services it provides to victims of SGBV. The staff is made up of executives from the Ministries of Security, Justice, Social Affairs and Health. 

The unit consists of a directorate with 4 departments: Prevention, Intervention and Warning Department; Investigation and Inquiries Department; Medical and Psychological Support Department; Legal and Judicial Assistance Department. 

It is commanded by a Director, an officer of the National Gendarmerie or the Central African Police, assisted by an Assistant Officer of the National Gendarmerie or the Central African Police. The intervention team is placed under the responsibility of a Gendarmerie or Police Officer, Head of Service. The other departments, Investigations, Medico-psychosocial and Legal and Judicial Assistance, are each under the responsibility of a Head of Department. The Director, his Assistant, and the Heads of the Investigations, Medical and Psychosocial, and Legal and Judicial Assistance Departments are appointed by Decree, while the rest of the staff are appointed by Order. 

The UMIRR is supported by the national budget, and benefits from the multiform support of technical and financial partners. These include UNDP, ABA and others. The UMIRR was made operational under the high patronage of His Excellency Professor Faustin Archange TOUADERA, President of the Republic, Head of State on 14 June 2017.