Some 100 women from an agricultural cooperative in Sekonkaha village, in the sous-préfecture of Napié, situated at 560 km north of Abidjan, were sensitised on the values of the culture of peace, social cohesion, gender-based violence, as well as community development, on 17 March 2016.

The sensitisation was part of the local campaign known as ONUCI Tour, initiated by the Public Information Office of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

In his opening remarks, UNOCI’s deputy Office Coordinator based in Korhogo, Abdulai Baako, urged the women to cultivate tolerance and solidarity within their cooperative, as well as make a commitment to educate young girls as a way of creating the conditions of their financial independence in the future.

For the representative of the village chief of Sekonkaha, Golougo Yéo, UNOCI’s initiative is worthy of praise because i twill help to strengthen the links and relations between the different women’s associations working for unity, peace and understanding.

According to the president of ‘’ Yéfougnipinin’’ women’s cooperative in Sekonkaha, Sonfoungo Soro, in order to achieve development, there has to be solidarity and unity between the sons and daughters of the village. She also urged the women « to reinforce and develop income-generating activities in order to contribute to the development of the village ».

UNOCI’s Public Information, Civil Affairs sections and United Nations Police sensitised participants on the value of tolerance and solidarity, the crucial role that women play in promoting cohesion within the family and the community as well as in local development, the importance of paying customs duty, collaboration between local people and security forces and gender-based violence.

During the discussions, the women made a commitment to stop practising female genital mutilation, to send their daughters to school and get involved in the reconciliation process. They also took the opportunity to present several concerns to local authorities such as the need to build a primary school in the village, install a water pump and a modern system to water their plants and build a stock room to keep their crops. They also asked that they be provided with motocycles to transport their produce.