Speeches Shim
For a long period, residents of Côte d’Ivoire’s city of Dimbokro, as in most cities in the country, lacked trust in the justice system. In fact, the entire justice system was perceived as inefficient, unfair and slow to act.
Election periods often have the potential to stoke tension and threaten social cohesion. Rising tension can sometimes spill over into outbreaks of violence, as Côte d'Ivoire experienced in 2010 before, during and after the polls.
March 2016—Following the violence of the 2010 presidential elections, many Ivorian women were reluctant to take part in the electoral process after experiencing traumatic events, including forced displacement, rape and killings. These women had come to consider elections as synonymous with trouble.
Women from five cities in western Côte d'Ivoire took to the streets last fall to promote harmony before the October presidential election. Their marches, which involved hundreds of participating women and thousands of spectators, conveyed a central strong message: Regardless of people’s political allegiances, the region is committed to peace.
In Côte d'Ivoire, soccer is a national obsession—as well as a way to educate youth about avoiding conflict and how to take part in peaceful elections.
Comment
Make a general inquiry or suggest an improvement.