« As a result of your visit, we are making a commitment to put an end to the practice of female genital mutilation in our village. Thanks to the your advice we now understand the serious effects of the practice. Thank you ». These were the words of Eugénie Gbogbo, president of women in Zeitouo village, situated at some 15 km from Toulepleu, in the west of Côte d’ Ivoire.

She was speaking during a sensitisation session organised by the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) on Thursday, 31 March 2016, in the locality.

The discussions between United Nations personnel based in Toulepleu and residents in Zeitouo focused on the fight against female genital mutilation and the need to strengthen social cohesion in order to achieve lasting peace and development.

The chief of UNOCI’s delegation, Hélène Sylvie Zomahoun, urged women to contribute to the total elimination of female circumcision in their area in order to ensure the well-being of girls and to put an end to a practice which adversely affects their physical integrity. She encourage the village officials and men to support the women in the eradication of thios harmful phenomenon which violates the rights of girls and women.

The differents components of the UN Mission which participated in the session also urged villagers to work on promoting a peaceful social climate which would in turn lead to the development of their locality.

Local people welcomed the organisation of the sensitisation session which provided an opportunity to discuss various issues with UNOCI – something which they said they had been waiting for, for four years.

They also asked local authorities to support education in the village by helping them build a primary school.

Mrs Zomahoun reaffirmed the UN Mission’s willingness to accompany the villages within the limits of its mandate and promised to raise their concerns with the local administrative authorities in the hope that lasting solutions can be found.

Visibly pleased with UNOCI’s visit to his village, the local chief, Alphonse Seukeu Bayo, thanked the Mission with these words : « You came and put your finger on our daily realities by explaining to us the harmful effects of female circumcision. You can count on us to work to consolidate peace in our village by fighting against this practice ».

It should be noted that a female circumcision ceremony involving some 20 girls took place in the village, which is in the sous-préfecture of Goulaleu, on 29 February 2016.