While peace education was underway in Abidjan, meetings and dialogues for peace continued outside the classroom.

Peace activists from the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) who visited Côte d’Ivoire from November 23 to December 3, 2024, held a series of meetings with officials from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children (MFFE), as well as local women’s organizations and institutions. They shared the importance of peace education with local female leaders who have been working for women’s rights and their communities, discussing ways to cooperate in promoting a culture of peace in Côte d’Ivoire.

Development Begins with Peace

Cedia Yao Christelle, Representative of the NGO ‘Women’s Voice’, saw peace as a foundation for social development.

She emphasized the necessity of continuous peace education for women, stating that if peace collapses, it leads not only to conflict and war, but also to various social issues such as violence against women, the increase in the number of orphans, and famine.

In particular, she believed that education should not remain confined to the capital city of Abidjan. She suggested that peace education should also be regularly provided to women in the inland regions of Côte d’Ivoire.

It was a voice from the field calling for peace education to become a sustained effort rather than a one-time event.

From Victims of Conflict to Active Agents of Peace

Annie Elizabeth Krizoa, President of the International Women’s-Friendly Business Federation (CIFEF), focused on the dual role of women in times of conflict.

She noted that when war and conflict erupt, women and children suffer the greatest harm, yet women are simultaneously active agents who can intervene in conflict, propose solutions, and help lead reconciliation efforts.

She emphasized the need to expand activities that raise women’s awareness of peace to broader regions and expressed her commitment to ongoing collaboration with IWPG.

A shared consensus emerged that women should not remain merely recipients of protection in times of conflict, but should become active agents in building peace.

Passing Peace to the Next Generation

Konan Gladys, President of the Cocody Women’s Association Federation (FAFCO), highlighted the importance of passing peace on to future generations.

She expressed the view that, in order to avoid passing on a legacy of repeated conflict and hostility, the current generation must learn about and practice peace. She particularly hoped that the values of peace would take root in families and local communities first.

From a Single Meeting to a Commitment to Cooperate

Cisse Kone Massandje, President of the NGO ‘Vivre Ensemble’, also emphasized the importance of peace education and cooperation in preventing the recurrence of conflict.

What she hoped for was a society where war and conflict never happen again—a country where everyone can live together without fear. To achieve this, she agreed that laying the foundation for people to learn about and practice peace in advance is just as vital as responding after a conflict breaks out.

Women Who Spoke of Peace

During these meetings, concrete discussions emerged regarding the scars that conflict leaves on women and children, the reasons why peace must be passed on to the next generation, and why local women require peace education. Some organizations proposed regular peace education and expanding it into local communities, expressing their desire to develop programs for women in partnership with IWPG.

Although they came from different organizations, their commitment to peace aligned seamlessly. They exchanged concrete ideas on how to combine their respective experiences with peace education and extend those efforts to their communities.

The dialogue that began in Abidjan now leads to further collaboration with the government.

In the next article, we will meet officials from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children of Côte d’Ivoire to hear how the government views women and peace education, and why it chose peace as a priority for the nation’s future.

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