The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Thursday, 12 March 2015, presided over a sectorial meeting with women from political parties of Côte d'Ivoire at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Abidjan. The theme of the meeting, which was a follow-up to a similar encounter organized on 18 February 2015 with the officers in charge of elections from the different political parties, was "The contribution of women to the creation of a peaceful electoral environment and the challenge of political participation and decision-making ».



It was attended by some 20 women from political parties and is part of recommendations made during a United Nations Discussion Platform on Elections organised by UNOCI and the Independent Electoral Commission on 18 and 19 December 2014.



Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Mindaoudou urged the women to play their role in a constructive way while always bearing in mind the general interest and the need to consolidate the progress made so far in to ensure that the process in which Côte d'Ivoire is engaged today has a successful outcome, including women's access to decision-making posts.



The Head of UNOCI stressed the fact that "Women need to fully participate in politics in their country in order obtain political power. This is all the more reason why it is important to discuss pertinent issues which lead to pertinent proposals and recommendations which can bring about positive change". She concluded by reminding participants they also needed to "discuss women's commitment to supporting the electoral process by carrying out concrete actions by participating at all level of the process".





Mrs Mindaoudou thanked the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission and his team who, by their actions, have supported the creation of an environment conducive to the holding of elections under good conditions. She also reminded the women that because of their position within political parties, they were key actors in the creation and maintenance of a peaceful and consensual environment for the holding of free, transparent and democratic elections in Côte d'Ivoire.

For his part the IEC's Permanent Secretary, André Gogognon Zano, in his message to the women, recalled that his institution remains conscious of the issue of women's participation in decision-making. "The IEC would like this to be reflected in the representatives chosen by the political parties," said Mr. Zano.



The IEC Spokesperson, Mrs Victoire Alley presented the actions carried out by her institution with regard to the training and deployment of local IECs, the updating of the electoral list and determining the 19 countries concerned with Ivorians voting outside of the country.. « We are counting on women who are key actors in promoting peace. We will continue to discuss with them in order to carry out joint actions so that we can have a peaceful electoral cycle not only in 2015 but in years to come», said Mrs Alley.



The Principal Deputy Special Representative for Côte d'Ivoire, Simon Munzu, who chaired the closing ceremony thanked the women for their commitment to the electoral cause and highlighted the constructive role played by women in building and consolidating peace especially during the electoral period. « As women you should capitalise on the progress made so far and reaffirm your support for democracy, peace and justice as well as civic values by carrying out daily actions in this regard," he said, reiterating that the United Nations remains commitment to accompanying Côte d'Ivoire in the electoral process.



Representatives of partner organisations of the United Nations Platform on Elections, such as the UN Development Fund (UNDP), the National Democratic Institute, (NDI), and UN Women, who took part in the meeting, contributed by responding to the women's concerns.