{« Zero deaths, zero injuries during the elections in Duékoué »} : this was the chorus sung with one voice by 50 traditional and community chiefs and youth and women leaders from Duékoué, situated at some 502 km west of Abidjan, to show their commitment to peace during a workshop on community reconciliation organised by the Transitional Justice Unit of the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). The workshop was held on 6 and 8 October 2015 on the theme : ''Rights must be respected to promote peace, democracy, reconciliation, social cohesion for peaceful elections''.



Working groups composed of youths from Carrefour and Kokoma neighbourhoods and women from the different communities, identified the problems which adversely affects reconciliation ; such as rural land ownership, insecurity due to the circulation of weapons, the detention of certain executives from the region following the post-electoral crisis of 2010-2011, as well as attempts to manipulate youths and spread false rumours, which is usually the case during an electoral period.



As a way of facilitating reconciliation, participants suggested fighting against spreading rumours, encouraging parents to take responsibility for their children's behaviour, paying compensation to all the victims of the different crises, the return of exiles and refugees, equal justice for all and the continuation of sensitisation campaigns to strengthen social cohesion.



In addition, as the presidential election draws closer, community and traditional chiefs, as well as youth and women leaders in Duékoué appealed to candidates and voters to show restrain to ensure that the electoral campaign is peaceful and the results of the ballot box are accepted by everyone.



On the margins of the working groups, the personnel of UNOCI's Civil Affairs and Human Rights Sections led discussions and debates on ''Respect for Human Rights for the promotion of democracy, peace, reconciliation and peaceful elections'' and ''Harmonious cohabitation and peaceful conflict mangement'', to strengthen participants capacity in this regard.



The opening ceremony of the workshop was presided over by the secretary-general I of Duékoué préfecture, Aboulaye Mané, and the United Nations Office Coordinator, Léonard Sossoukpe, who took the opportunity to urge participants to do all they can for the well-being of their locality.



The head of the Transitional Justice Unit, Marguerite Bukuru, encouraged the leaders from Duékoué to put into practice the conclusions of the workshop.