24 June 2011 - The United Nations today announced the construction of 12 additional model police stations in Guinea-Bissau as part of its support to the country's Security Sector Reform (SSR) implementation.

Speaking during the official launch of the concept of model police stations and respective community-policing in Bissau chaired by Guinea-Bissau Secretary of State for Internal Security and Public Order, the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office (UNIOGBIS) Chief of SSR, Antero Lopes, stated that the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) could contribute to the construction of new model police stations in the capital and countryside.

In next July, Bissau-Guinean authorities will inaugurate the first model police station in Bissau, which was constructed with the support of UNIOGBIS.

In his latest report on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the Secretary-General stresses that the "construction of model police stations with the provision of equipment and the selection and training of police officers to staff the stations is an essential step in national efforts to restore State authority and re-establish public security conditions for the population, as well as to create a professional community-based police service." "This will help break with past practice of frequent disregard for the rule of law and human rights."

The UN, through UNIOGBIS, UNDP, o UNODC and UNICEF, as well as other partners, are supporting Guinea-Bissau SSR, which is considered a pillar for peace and stability of the West African country.