ReliefWeb

The UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in partnership with the NGO “Grenier International” has been sensitizing some 50 women in Katiali, Sub Prefecture of Mbengue, 660 km north of Abidjan on reconciliation and gender-based violence.

During the meeting on Friday 23 August 2013, the local head of UNOCI Public Information Office stressed the importance the Security Council places on the participation of women in the peace and reconciliation process in Cote d’Ivoire. “Reinforce cohesion among your associations and be models of reconciliation and tolerance in your various quarters,” he said.

For his part, the President of “Grenier International”, Salimata Coulibaly discussed the issues of early marriage, female genital mutilation and rape. He stressed the importance of respecting Ivorian laws prohibiting all forms of violence against women.

The Sub Prefect of Katiali, Tohet Ernest Die said he was satisfied with the UN initiative and urged the women who came from 14 different quarters to pay attention to the messages of peace, reconciliation and development.

The women, through their spokesperson Sylla Natogouma, made recommendations aimed at improving their standard of living. These include adult literacy, the building of a market and a storage magazine for garden produce, the maintenance of farm-to-market roads to facilitate the transportation of farm products.