The grassroots sensitization programme of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) dubbed made two important stops on Wednesday 12 March 2014 in the villages of Massadougou (27 km north of Odienne) and Kakologo, Napie Sub Prefecture, 560 km north of Abidjan.



Masssadougou is a small enclave in the Kimbrilla Sud Sub-Prefecture with no school. It also refuses to be attached to any other division except Odienne.

Apart from urging them to promote social cohesion, respect state authority, and settle conflicts peacefully, UNOCI officials pointed out the advantages of living in unity in order to come out of their backwardness and promote development.



Some 100 inhabitants took part in the sensitization exercise which, according to the village youth leader, had made them aware of the negative effects of traditional malpractices such as female genital excision and violence against women which they did not know are prohibited by law.

In Kakologo, some 200 women were educated about gender-based violence, social cohesion and local development. UNOCI representatives spoke of the importance of women in promoting family and community cohesion as well as development.



The women were urged to cultivate the spirit of forgiveness and tolerance and to find lasting solutions to development problems by engaging in income generating activities.



The women made a commitment to discontinue the practice of female genital excision, to register births at the civil registry and to be involved in the reconciliation process. Their grievances included the need for a foodstuff warehouse, a dam, healthcare facilities, the rehabilitation of water pumps and financial support from micro-finance establishments.