A 16-day campaign against gender-based violence reached its climax in Grand- Bereby, 415 km south-west of Abidjan on Tuesday 10 December 2013.



"The campaign, which was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly, is aimed at fighting to end violence against women and teach people to better understand the issue and to put an end to it," the head of the UN delegation based in the area, Kengo Wakengo explained.

The theme centred on: "Free all schools from sexual and sexist violence". The climax of the event was organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Tabou, the NGO "ASAPSU", the Ivorian League for Human Rights and the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and brought together primary school children, secondary school students, education, traditional, administrative and community authorities.

UN Police Antoine Habonarugira educated the population on the legal aspects of gender-based violence (GBV), and pointed out that the UN Charter, international conventions and resolutions as well as national laws condemn acts of violence against women and girls.



The representative of the Mayor of the commune, Karl Mel Olivier Metchro, stressed the special character of the closing day of the campaign and said the people of the town will have a better understanding of this unacceptable practice.



The campaign in Tabou was marked by the sensitization of school children, the screening of films on HIV/AIDS and female circumcision, voluntary medical testing for HIV/AIDS and quizzes on GBV.