About 30 officials of women's associations in Toulepleu on Wednesday 4 June 2014 took part in a seminar on capacity building for women leaders organized by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). The seminar dealt with issues related to gender equality and equity and the need for decision making bodies to incorporate women in order to achieve an inclusive and sustainable development.



Topics discussed included the role of women in the fight against and prevention of child labour, the contribution of women to the reconciliation and development process and the participation of women in public affairs: a human rights approach.



Several recommendations were arrived at including the need to hold more frequent sensitization meetings on capacity building, the promotion of literacy, entrepreneurship, participation in public hearings of the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CDVR), and the need to fix quotas for women's participation in the traditional chieftaincy institution and other decision-making bodies.



The women also decided to help facilitate the return of refugees so they can participate in national reconciliation and reconstruction by joining a delegation of government authorities, UNOCI and women to Liberia to talk to the refugees.

Regarding the issue of child labour, the women agreed to put in place a monitoring system and to mobilise community leaders, administrative and political authorities to hold meetings aimed at coordinating the fight against and prevention of the malpractice.



The Coordinator of the UN integrated office in Toulepleu, Helen Sylvie Zomahoun urged the women to take their destiny into their hands and become actors of development while the president of the federation of associations of women of Toulepleu, Yvonne Tahi said the workshop had permitted them to be enlightened about their role.



The Secretary-general of the Prefecture, Yao Dje expressed the sincere gratitude of the local authorities to UNOCI for responding to their concern. "Your initiative today is just another demonstration of your willingness to restore peace in Cote d'Ivoire through the reinforcement of social cohesion and the welfare of refugees," he said.