A follow- up workshop to evaluate the implementation of recommendations drawn up during the occasion of UN Days organized in Man in May 2013 took place on Tuesday June 10 2014 in that town situated some 600 km north-west of Abidjan.

The evaluation meeting, organized by the Public Information Office of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) brought together 40 representatives of youth and women's associations, traditional and religious authorities, representatives of settler groups , NGOs, military and security forces as well as media representatives. The meeting took stock of events since the UN Days and identified new obstacles to the maintenance of social cohesion and the challenges facing the 2015 presidential election.

It would be recalled that participants at the UN Days had recommended the involvement of opinion leaders in the national reconciliation process and social cohesion as well as the involvement of traditional chieftaincies, religious and community leaders in the settlement of problems related to rural land disputes. Other recommendations included the efficient management and the provision of security for the free movement of persons and goods in the Tonkpi region which borders neighbouring countries by the defense and security forces; disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants and young people- at- risk in order establish a peaceful social environment.

The workshop observed that the recommendations had only been partially implemented due to lack of technical and financial support, thus much remained to be done.



Participants welcomed the support of the international community, particularly UNOCI and envisaged the building of capacity of traditional chiefs, religious leaders, youth and women's associations, and the forces of law and order; the stepping up of sensitization campaigns to promote social cohesion, reconciliation and the culture of peace in order to prepare a peaceful electoral environment.

"This workshop indicates better prospects for ensuring the quality of resource persons capable of providing solutions to anticipated problems and preempting electoral violence," the representative of the Prefect of the region, Rene Angaman Brou observed. He called on participants to put the recommendations arrived at into practice so as to achieve concrete and measurable results.