Special Representative goes to higher education college for a peace sensitisation campaign with students

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Thursday, 18 June 2015 participated in the opening ceremony of the sixth leg of the peace sensitisation campaign for students in universities and higher education colleges.

The ceremony took place at the École Normale Supérieure d'Abidjan - Higher Education College in Abidjan. The United Nations interest in promoting the culture of peace in universities did not start today, said Mrs Mindaoudou, adding that universities had always shown a particular interest in peace and social cohesion, which led to the drawing up of a charter known as the Salif Ndiaye Charter for the promotion of peace. « To us it seemed that a project which involved several higher education institutions in contributing to creating a framework which encourages debate and sensitisation and information sessions in an effort to promote peace and civic responsibility would be extremely useful, » she said.

For the chief of UNOCI, the impressive mobilisation of students around the process of organising this important sensitisation campaign was proof of their commitment to promote excellence in their establishment and beyond.

Returning to the reason for the campaign, Aïchatou Mindaoudou highlighted the foundation of the United Nations' action, which she recalled was based on UN Security Council resolutions. The last resolution 2162 of 25 June 2014 defines the actual framework of UNOCI's intervention in Côte d'Ivoire. According to this resolution, the UN Security Council recognised national reconciliation as being at the heart of the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire.

« The last resolution of the United Nations Security Council states that it is important to implement a national reconciliation and social cohesion strategy. It is in response to this, that UNOCI, together with United Nations agencies, has been working at all levels to engage diverse groups of people, including university students, to fully contribute to strengthening social cohesion and national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire », said the Special Representative.

In addition, she stressed that in the light of the forthcoming presidential election in 2015, the same Security Council resolution invites all the concerned partners to ensure that conditions are right for the holding of free, regular and transparent elections, open to all and during which all violence and hate speech is prohibited.

« École Normale Supérieure has a very particular environment because we are with students who are future teachers. This is an opportunity for you to initiate strong actions and make firm commitments to work for a peaceful environment », she said.

Finally, Mrs Mindaoudou urged the students to strengthen the objectives of the Salif Ndiaye Charter and the trust between student associations and to make a commitment to think constructively around democratic values founded on peace. « I know that tomorrow will be actors in a Côte d'Ivoire reconciled with itself », she added.

The Director of the higher education college, Professor Valy Sidibé, for his part, expressed the hope that he will see the grains of peace growing in the students who attended the gathering.