The UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on 14 and 15 May 2014 conducted a training course on leadership for some 30 representatives of media organs and women's associations in the Sud Comoe and Lagunes regions.



The training which took place in Grand Bassam, 35 km east of Abidjan, focused on the management of rumours, strengthening women's leadership and social cohesion as a guarantee for a peaceful environment.

The representative of UNOCI's Public Information Office, Ladji Sidibe said the challenges of women's promotion cannot be overcome without the sustained commitment of the media especially community radios and the Ivorian News Agency. « These media constitute the driving force behind the reconstruction, stabilization and consolidation of the unity of a country that has just gone through the worst. In essence these media are closest to the population, » he said.

According to Mr. Sidibe, the training course was aimed at ensuring that information given to the public is reliable and credible. « The reliability and credibility of the local media is the principal weapon against rumour which has become the stock in trade of certain Ivorian media organs, » Mr. Sidibe remarked.

During the course, participants sought to set up a platform for the media and the women leaders of Sud Comoe in order to strengthen peace and social cohesion. They also decided to exploit certain traditional values such as interethnic alliances to reinforce national reconciliation, promote the virtues of diversity in Sud Comoe and sensitise the population on the consequences of rumours by informing them in the local languages.





Recommendations were made at the workshop including a demand on the local media to promote the recruitment of women and to share information with the women in times of crisis or conflict and the creation of a platform for media and civil society for the promotion of peace and social cohesion.





Administrative and religious authorities were urged to be neutral in the management of intercommunity affairs, while UNOCI was called upon to take the responsibility of the training of staff of community radios so they can be at the service of peace and reconciliation and serve as instruments of peace during the elections in 2015.