Adzope, Bondoukou, Odienne, 8 October 2012... The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has been discussing ways of promoting national reconciliation, social cohesion, and peace with the people of Koutouba in the district of Bondoukou, Miadzin in Adzopé district and Beredougou in the Odienné area, on the 3, 4 and 5 October respectively.

During the discussions, which were organised as part of "UNOCI Tour" - a grassroots sensitization programme-, the different groups of people pledged to maintain a climate of peace in their area and develop social cohesion among the various communities.

Speaking to the population of Koutouba, Desire Ndagjimana of the Public Information Office in Bondoukou, urged the inhabitants to honour their commitment to uphold a genuine and lasting peace.

"Peace is never totally attained. It is the duty of each one of us to strive daily for the improvement of the peace process in our towns and villages," he said.

Explaining to the people the right direction to take, Joseph Nou Badoum of the Human Right Office said maintaining peace and social cohesion begins with the respect for human rights.

"Respect the rights of women and children by allowing them to attend the different meetings and take part in the decision-making process of the village. This would enable them to better resolve problems that arise and this could also provide a learning forum for children," he stressed.

According to Gaston Zeuteubouo of UNPOL, the consolidation of peace requires a much greater participation of the youth in the reconciliation process.

In Miadzin, the various components of UNOCI, including the Civil Affairs Section, the Jordanian Battalion and the Public Information Office, each presented its mandate and the overall mandate of UNOCI. They called for social cohesion, stressing that cultural differences should not constitute a source of discord but should rather be a source of mutual enrichment.

In Beredougou, UNOCI highlighted the need to manage conflicts peacefully and called on community leaders to cultivate peace and encourage social cohesion and reconciliation among the people of the village.