Security forces and civilians in Guezon attend workshop on peaceful coexistence.

Some 60 security forces, gendarmes, waters and forest guards, community, women and youth leaders participated on 9 May 2015 in an open discussion forum organized by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Guezon (480 km west of Abidjan) on ways of promoting peaceful coexistence.

The discussions were conducted UN officials including Abiba Ouattara of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) who spoke on gender-based violence; Mohammed Hamid Sidien of UNOCI's Human Rights Division who gave an expose on human rights, the rights of the child, and the fight against gender-based violence; Ramillo Rudaragi of Civil affairs who spoke of the protection of the civilian population while a member of the Danish demining Group, Alain Dedou laid emphasis on community security and Salvator Hatungimana of UN Police highlighted the right to vote.

During their discussions, participants tried to examine factors that hindered a smooth relationship between security forces and the civilian population such as the rising rate of crime despite the presence of security agents, the lack of impartiality by the security forces in their handling of conflicts, racketeering by security agents, and the refusal by civilians to collaborate with security forces and the persistent grudges held by the population since the post electoral crisis.

Both sides made commitments to work toward the improvement of relations and made recommendations aimed at promoting sensitization instead of repression and the need to speak to one another in a polite and courteous manner. They also called on UNOCI to organize many more of such encounters in order to facilitate a smoother relationship between the two groups.

With regard to the state, the participants called government to provide adequate logistics and arms to enable the security forces to better perform their duties and sensitise the population about laws, rules and regulations.
In his closing remarks, the Sub Prefect of Bogohuo , Desire Tanon who was standing in for his colleague in Guezon, expressed gratitude to UNOCI for its multiple support to the people of Cote d'Ivoire and reminded the participants of the need to reinforce peaceful coexistence.

The event rounded up with a friendly football match and the award of a trophy donated by UNOCI.