UN Days in Divo rounds up with a commitment to promote the culture of peace

The UN Days held in Divo came to a close on Friday 21 February 2014 with a public forum that brought together the elites, women, youths, traditional and religious authorities and journalists of the area.

The 3-day event was marked by a meeting between the Deputy UN Special Representative for Cote d'Ivoire, Arnauld Akodjenou and members of civil society to discuss their role and responsibilities in the consolidation of peace and the promotion of inter-communal dialogue.

"Divo, like all the divisions in Cote d'Ivoire, should demonstrate its total commitment to peace," Mr. Akodjenou said. He said he was convinced that "this land of diverse ethnic groups and hospitality has already joined the national reconciliation train."

The Mayor of Divo, Kouakou Amadee said his municipality comprised 135,000 inhabitants made up of people of diverse origins and a strong community of citizens from member states of the West African Economic grouping (ECOWAS). "The population was living under a climate of total mistrust during the crisis. But the political and administrative authorities, with the backing of traditional and religious leaders, concerted their efforts to restore cohesion among the communities," he explained.

The President of the Regional Council, Zakpa Komenan said "between 1990 and the post electoral crisis, Divo was the theatre of violent confrontations between youths of the opposition and security forces, while protest marches that were violently suppressed left many victims along the line. He expressed gratitude to the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) whose action contributed to the security of persons and property. Mr. Zapka requested UNOCI assistance in the reintegration of 347 youths at risk, demobilized ex-combatants identified in the Loh Djiboua region because they could in the near future become the source of resurgent violence.

For his part, the Prefect of Divo, Joseph Kpan Droh said it was important today to reiterate the importance of peace." It is our place to cultivate and maintain it and especially to teach it to our children so that such violence should not repeat itself in future," he stressed.

A spokesman for the youths, Denis Bada Djidji requested UNOCI to assist the authorities of Divo to set up a committee to carry out a sensitization campaign on disarmament and recommended to the authorities to grant them the right to elect a president who would represent them.

Traditional leaders requested UNOCI to sensitise the state on the need to tackle the problem of demobilized ex-combatants who pose a constant threat to security.

Media practitioners for their part resolved to set up a platform for the designing of programmes aimed at promoting reconciliation in the Loh Djiboua region.

A spokesperson for the women, Edwige Broux expressed the wish for the involvement of UNOCI in the fight against racketeering and illicit roadblocks in villages and encampments. The intensification of patrols in the neighbourhoods, free medical care and medical certificates for victims of rape were among recommendations made by the women.

At the end of a workshop for defense and security forces, their spokesman, Warrant Officer Bakary Fofana said adequate training was required for a good understanding of human rights by members of the forces in Divo. The elites of the area expressed similar concerns by calling for the popularization of laws in order for people to have confidence in the judicial system. They also called for special attention to be paid to the physical and moral integrity of women especially by fighting against sexual violence and the maltreatment of children.

The UN Days was also marked by sporting and cultural activities, film projections and the free distribution of drinking water by UNOCI Niger battalion to inhabitants of Dialogue quarter who have not been able to access pipe borne water of the national water company for several months.