Oumé, a town situated in the administrative region of Goh, in centrewest Côte d'Ivoire, at 270 km Abidjan hosted 41st edition of United Nations Days from 7 to 9 December 2015.



The Days, organised by the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), in partnership with United Nations Agencies, is a sensitisation campaign which goes to different parts of the country to promote the consolidation peace and national reconciliation.



On the final day of the campaign, 9 December, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Aïchatou Mindaoudou, took part in a public forum organised in the Place de la République, with local people in Oumé.



During the forum, the recommendations made during the different workshops organised on the 7 and 8 December 2015, with the defence and security forces, traditional and community chiefs, religious leaders, members of NGOs, women and youth associations, elected representatives and local dignitaries, were read out to the gathering.



With regard to the importance of social cohesion in the area, the workshop rapporteur for ''women NGOs and associations'', Koua N'Gbin, highlighted «the need to create an independent and inclusive social cohesion committee which will follow-up on sensitising women on the issue ». The women also expressed the hope that the security forces will also become involved in the prevention of conflicts.



The workshop rapporteur for the '' traditionals chiefs and religious leaders'', El Hadj Soumahoro, said that, « they were still committed to always listen to the people, anticipate and identify local problems and quickly manage them, and avoid allowing themselves to be manipulated by politicians ». The traditional chiefs and religious leaders also called for those who work to build peace in Oumé be decorated.



Brigitte Kakou Lou, the workshop rapporteur for the « Elected officials and local dignitaries outlined a series of concerns in the area, including youth unemployment, urban and rural land disputes and insecurity on roads. She also stressed the fact that the exploitation of gold mines could lead to serious conflict.



For the rapporteur of the youth workshop Billy Fulgence Ziza, rude behaviour by some sections of young people was a problem. « The youths have made a commitment to respect administrative and traditional authorities», he told the gathering. The youths also asked for actions which will provide social activities for them in Oumé such as the rehabilitation of the municipal stadium and the cultural centre.



The security forces based in the department whose recommendations were delivered by Lieutenant Patrick Dalo, made a commitment « to creating their own mechanism to ensure that they respect the ethics and deontology of their respective units ; respect human rights and collaborate with local people respectfully in order to better protect them ».



The recommendations made after the workshops reflect your consciousness and your level of responsibility





« I listened and noted with a lot interest the recommendations that came out of the different workshops. They reflect your consciousness and your level of responsibility to implement them», said the Head of UNOCI in her speech. « Your commitment will show your aspirations to act collectively to preserve peace, contribute to local development and work for lasting stability in the department of Oumé in particular and the region of Goh, in general », she said, adding that it was important to forgive in order to move forward in the interest of social cohesion and national reconciliation. The Special Representative concluded by reaffirming her personal commitment and that of the United Nations to support the actions of the Ivorian authorities and the people to promote peace and lasting stability in Côte d'Ivoire.



« Allow men to congratulate you, to thank UNOCI and to tell you how grateful the people are to you», said the secretary-general of Oumé préfecture, Houssou Allari, who represented the Prefect. He then talked about how the UN had assisted Côte d'Ivoire since 2004. He thanked UNOCI peacekeepers for the sacrifices they had made for peace in Côte d'Ivoire and throughout the world.



The Director-Coordinator of the National Social Cohesion Programme, Professor Mariatou Koné, took part in the 41st edition of UN Days.



Activities during the three-day campaign included a sketch by the Children's Parliament in Oumé which criticised early and forced marriage. The winners of the sports activities were presented with several trophies from dignitaries who attended the event.



On her arrival in Oumé in the morning, the Special Representative held a working session with local government authorities and a delegation of elected reprentatives and local dignitaries.