The Daloa office of the Human Rights Division (HRD) of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on Tuesday, 17 March 2015, urged more than 50 women from Ka 'Andaman association, to work for a peaceful election in 2015. The plea was made at the conference room of Vavoua Sub-Prefecture, during UNOCI sensitization campaign in that city.



According to Prosper Shabani of Human Rights Division, the objective of such plea was to help members of the association draw lessons from 2010 electoral crisis and make proposals for a non-violent environment during the 2015 elections. "Elections in Africa, in general, are interspersed with violence. Most often women and child are the victims. UNOCI, therefore, wants, through this meeting, to discuss with you and with your help find solutions to avoid the mistakes of 2010," Mr. Shabani said.



For his part, Anicet Bekrou of the Public Information Office in Daloa, urged the Vavoua women not to spread false information, particularly during election periods and to fight against rumours.



In this highly agricultural area, the issue of women's empowerment and concerns related to the rights of women and children were also discussed. The President of the Ka 'Andaman, Josephine Kouamé Lou Tiahou, welcomed the UN Mission's initiative. "We thank you UNOCI for your efforts to get us out of the crisis. This meeting will contribute to helping us to put aside our political differences and focus instead on the need to together and with one voice ask authorities to provide funding for our projects. We believe that this is now our priority at the expense of political issues, "she said.



A view shared by the Acting Prefect of the Department, Augustin Déhoulé. "The administration still provides support for all initiatives aimed at promoting peace and development," he said.