The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Sunday, 18 August 2013, took part in a ceremony to conclude a series of meetings on the role of women in the national reconciliation process, in the presence of the Chairman of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Charles Konan Banny.



The objective of the ceremony, which was organised by the Réseau Ivoirien des Femmes pour la Réconciliation (RIFR), was to review the different initiatives and consultations undertaken by several women's association as part of the national reconciliation process, assess the results and make practical recommendations to the Commission.



« I would like to reassure you that UNOCI and the United Nations agencies are ready to strengthen their support for national reconciliation initiatives through a strategic partnership with the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, » said the Special Representative during the closing ceremony.



Mrs Mindaoudou said that UNOCI and the United Nations agencies were pleased to see Ivorian women « fully involved in the national reconciliation process ». She appealed for an irreversible dynamic, adding that it was a challenge that had to be tackled together,



The Special Representative also stressed that « the Réseau Ivoirien des Femmes pour la Réconciliation and its work also take into consideration gender equality in their programmes and that the national reconciliation process must constitute an illustration of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 ».



The Chairman of the Commission, Charles Konan Banny, thanked the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), Mrs Aïchatou Mindaoudou, for her participation in the ceremony. Mr. Banny announced that public meetings were due to start soon, adding that the time for justice for victims had arrived.