Yamoussoukro, 1st December 2009... Some 20 members of the Coordination of Women in Côte d'Ivoire, along with staff of the Electoral Assistance Division from the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), on Tuesday, in Yamoussoukro, participated in a training session on gender within an electoral process.

The one-day seminar organized by UNOCI's Gender Unit, aimed at women's capacity building on taking into account gender in the elections.

"Be the best ambassadors of the promotion women's rights in your respective communities and participate actively in the electoral process for the return of lasting peace in Côte d'Ivoire", said UNOCI's focal point in Yamoussoukro, Omer Kalameu. He recalled the Mission's role, which he said, was to accompany Ivoirians in general and particularly women so that the electoral process takes place under the best possible conditions.

For her part, Anne Marie Kemegne, a UNOCI gender officer, explained that fair elections must involve women's participation in all phases of the electoral process, on the same footing as men. She underlined the importance of women's presence in decision-making "so that women's voices are heard".

During this workshop, discussions focused on various modules, namely gender, law, and the responsibility of actors in the electoral process; the gender issue and electoral appeals, as well as gender perspectives and elections.

For his part, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Lacs region, Sanogo Khalil, explained the notion of electoral appeals to the participants.

A similar workshop will be organized for members of civil society in Daloa, on 3 December, and Bouaké, on 8 December 2009.