People in Hermankono want to live as one

Hermankono, a village in the Odienné area, which due to urbanisation has now become a neighbourhood in the town, on Thursday, 3 October 2013, welcomed a UN delegation and representatives of the Organisation for the Promotion of Human Rights for a sensitisation and information session on the culture of peace, strengthening the rule of law and social cohesion and promoting human rights and security with the local population.

During the session, the representative of the Civil Affairs Section of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) urged participants to respect the authority of the state and to cultivate living as one.

This appeal was echoed by the Imam of Hermankono mosque, Kourouma Mamadou, who said that people should follow the advice of UNOCI and the Organisation for the Promotion of Human Rights. He warned them that the days of each person being a law unto himself were over and urged parents in the neighbourhood give their children good advice which will in turn change their behaviour.

The president of the women association in Hermankono, Diarrassouba Tata, said she was optimistic about the future. She urged the village chief to call a meeting of local chiefs with the Canton chief in order to take a decision to ban anyone who does not want to live as one.
UNOCI's Human Rights, Civil Affairs, Public Information sections, UN police and the Organisation for the Promotion of Human Rights participated in the event which was attended by 30 including traditional and religious leaders in Hermankono.