UNOCI and legal clinic sensitise inhabitants of Watte village on civic obligations

About 200 representatives of Watte village, 40 km from San Pedro in the Bas Sassandra region attended a sensitization meeting on Tuesday 7 may 2014 organised by the Legal Clinic in collaboration with the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the Organisation des Femmes actives de Cote d'Ivoire (OFACI) on civic obligations.

The representative of the Legal clinic, Medard Nguessan spoke on the importance of birth declaration, rural lands and inheritance. "Declare the birth of your children because without a birth certificate, they do not exist," she informed them. She also informed them of a special law relating to the registration of births that took place between 30 November 2010 and 31 July 2011. She advised them to give priority to children in last year of elementary school who do not have birth certificates in order to facilitate their registration for entry into secondary schools in the next academic year.

The representative of UNOCI's Public Information Office Kadi Cisse spoke on the importance of living together in peace and understanding. "We are here today because there is peace. Without peace we would not have been here. Let's put away our grudges so as to truly reconcile with one another," she said.

The OFACI representative, Salimata Gude interpreted the presentations into the local Malinke language in the presence of the Chief of Watte village, Alain Hino Tagnon who welcomed the initiative which permitted villagers to get a response to some of their concerns.