The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is celebrated throughout the world on 29 May and the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) commemorated the event in several parts of the country.



In Toulepleu division, western Cote d'Ivoire, the village of Denan in the Sub Prefecture of Pehe was chosen to host the event which brought together residents, local administrative authorities, civil society organisations and UN staff who paid homage to UN peacekeepers who had lost their lives in the cause of peace.



The ceremony comprised a photo exhibition on the activities of UNOCI and UN agencies aimed at consolidating peace in Cote d'Ivoire; the screening of a film on the UNOCI Force; and a presentation aimed at raising awareness on the protection of the child, the consequences of rape and early pregnancy. Other issues discussed included the peaceful resolution of land disputes as a contribution to the strengthening of social cohesion.



The Secretary-General of the Toulepleu Prefecture, Yao Dje paid tribute to the Blue Helmets saying: "This is an opportunity to say thank you to the soldiers of peace who have by and large contributed to the stabilization of the security and social situation of our division and made it possible for people to move in and out."

In Yaounde, situated some 527 km north-west of Abidjan, the Blue Helmets of the Pakistani contingent organized free medical consultations and treatment for 500 inhabitants while the Moroccan contingent distributed free potable water to the population.



In Guiglo, the local Coordinator of the UN Country Team, Dr. Almouner Talibo read the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon after which a senior official of the Prefecture, Henri Gnakouri delivered a message of gratitude to the UN. The UN, he said, was able to divert our country from chaos and ensured the holding of Presidential election which has permitted the country today to embark on development. On his part, the 1st Deputy Mayor, Maurice Monemo paid a vibrant tribute to the Blue Helmets and recalled that "without them the country would have sunk into the abyss." Cote d'Ivoire, he said, owes you more than it can repay.



In the Bas Sassandra area, the town of Buyo, 250 km north-west of San Pedro was selected to host the event. The programme included the reading of UN Secretary-General's message by the head of the UNOCI delegation, Stephen Lyonga Ekosse and the screening of a film on gender-based violence followed by a conference on the same subject by Paul Zokou of UNOCI's Human Rights Office. He outlined the different forms of violence against women, putting emphasis on rape, sexual harassment and early pregnancies in schools. He reminded the audience about legal measures to punish these malpractices and called on parents to be more vigilant during the holiday season in order to protect their children. The events rounded up with a football match between traders and teachers of Buyo.



The Member of Parliament for Buyo, Lazare Yao, a co-organiser of the event said he had invited the UN because he wanted his constituents to be informed about "the marvelous work you are doing throughout the country and about the various goals which, together, would lead us to a reconciled Cote d'Ivoire."



In Korhogo, 580 km north of Abidjan, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers was celebrated with sporting activities which brought together students of the Pelefero Gon Coulibaly University and some professional schools, a presentation of the UN Secretary-General's message and an awareness campaign on social cohesion, the culture of peace and the need for peaceful elections scheduled for 2015.