Following a serious conflict that broke out in May this year between villagers in Ouattaradougou in the Department of Duékoué, 535km northwest from Abidjan, the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the Legal Clinic of Duékoué on 5 June 2015, organized an awareness campaign with the warring parties in effort to help them make peace.



Speaking at the meeting, Pierre Aby, UNOCI's Public Information Officer in Guiglo, said that there was a solution to every problem. "Respect for traditions, customs and the laws of the country is absolutely necessary to preserve social cohesion. Nobody has the right to take the law into his own hands, regardless of what he has suffered", he has said.



According to Mr. Aby, this spirit must also prevail during the future elections. "No one should prevent his neighbour from campaigning for the candidate of his choice or from voting for him", he said.



For his part, the representative of UNOCI's police component (UNPOL) Ruffin Leké, asked people in Ouattaradougou to obey the law. "I urge you to denounce any law offender and cooperate with all security forces, for your own security and protection" he said.



Julienne Frédérique Eké of the Legal Clinic, told villagers that they must obey the laws of the country in which they are living. She also showed them what to do in case of civil and penal prejudices.



"You should provide evidence of the crimes you have suffered through the intermediary of a bailiff or by simply taking the pictures of those crimes, when it comes to the destruction, for example, of plants in your farm" she explained. She then urged people to show wisdom by respecting laws which, she added, were the foundation of social cohesion. She told them that whatever crimes they had suffered, they should get involved in self-justice. "Courts exist to render justice on your behalf", she added.



The village chief of Ouattaradougou, Bakary Ouattara expressed his gratitude to the trainers for the information they had provided to his people. "I ask my people to work together and promote social cohesion. I am against rape and murder, and when that happens, I need the support of all of you for the follow up of the procedures. Thank you UNOCI and the Legal Clinic for your contribution in the restoration of social cohesion in the village", he said.