Some 25 members of youth associations and NGOs took part in a workshop on the prevention and management of conflicts organized on Thursday 5 May 2014 by the Civil Affairs Office of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).



The workshop falls within the framework of UNOCI's mission to promote peace, reconciliation and the strengthening of social cohesion. "Youths who are the key actors in the search for peace still do not know their role in the promotion of social cohesion and have often been manipulated for political ends and used to undermine social cohesion, that is why we have organized this training to build their capacity," the Civil Affairs representative, Taiyou Tchouzin remarked.



The 2nd deputy Mayor of Abengourou, Tia Ousmane who presided over the opening ceremony encouraged the young men to play their role in the socio-economic development of the region and the nation at large. "You must guard against any action that is an impediment to social cohesion; you must adopt a responsible behavior when faced with a situation of conflict," he advised.



The workshop which discussed topics including the identification of factors which constitute conflict, the different types of conflict, as well as the methods of conflict resolution and prevention, ended with a commitment by the youths to promote peace and reconciliation in their various communities in view of the 2015 presidential election.