Batipa Agnès Koura, 1960 - 2010
UN Police (Benin)
Batipa Agnès Koura, a national of Benin, was part of the UN Police group working for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) since October 2009.
A member of Benin’s Public Security Forces, Batipa was a Chief Sergeant and worked as a police clerk in Lokossa and Cotonou. Prior to her deployment to Haiti, she was working in the special police station at the Aéroport International Cardinal Bernardin Gantin de Cadjehoun in the Cotonou.
In Haiti, Batipa served in MINUSTAH’s Operations and Monitoring Pillar as a police monitor in the western region of Port-au-Prince where, as a woman, she was called upon to take on special projects.
“As a female officer, her contribution in the field of sexual crimes and the protection of minors was greatly appreciated,” said a colleague who worked with her in Port-au-Prince.
The colleague added that “after only three months as a technical advisor and a gender focal point at the police station of Croix des Bouquets, Batipa became very involved in her work to support the Haitian National Police and to maintain security in her sector.”
At the time of the earthquake, there were 31 Beninois police officers working with the UN Police in Haiti.
Benin’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou held an emotional ceremony to honour the memory of Batipa and the two other Beninois police officers who also perished in the earthquake. After observing a minute of silence, he presented his condolences, along with the condolences of the President and the Government of Benin, to the family members in attendance.
Batipa is survived by her brother Gedeon.