The promotion of women's competence was at the center of the meeting initiated by the Compendium of Women's Skills of Côte d'Ivoire (COCOFCI), led by Minister Euphrasia Kouassi Yao. This Friday, February 9, at the Abidjan Plateau District Hotel, this organization of promotion of the kind, took stock of its activities of 2017, and announced the prospects for the current year, in the presence of several authorities.
 
They were 500 at the start. To date, there are 14,000 who aspire to more equality in a world still prey to prejudice. This Friday, women members of the Compendium of Women's Skills of Côte d'Ivoire (COCOFCI), were found, to take stock of the activities of the past year. At their head, Minister Euphrasia Kouassi Yao, special adviser to the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, for the promotion of gender, expressed her satisfaction for the work done and the progress made since 2012, the year of creation of the Compendium.
 
"We want conflicts to subside and balance to return. The Compendium represents all women who want to be better. Our goal is to strengthen the visibility and leadership of women in the management of public services. We must identify the sectors where women are not represented, in order to favor a dynamic and supportive network to occupy them. A database was first set up with 500 women. To date, we are 14 000. Our challenge, bring all the female skills to the Compendium, so to fill, all positions of responsibility. We also need financial resources to carry out our activities, "said the Minister, during the presentation of COCOFCI's annual report.
 
The story first began in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire, before spreading to all other regions of the country. The women listed in the Compendium represent all the political and socio-economic sensitivities of the country. No difference, no discrimination, only one goal, one vision, contribute to women's empowerment by breaking down the barriers of inequality. Brigitte Quenum, UN AIDS Resident Representative, acknowledges that there is still much work to be done, despite the results achieved, in promoting gender in Côte d'Ivoire.
 
"Gender equality and women's empowerment are an important step towards equitable and sustained development in the country. The Compendium initiative is to be welcomed as it aims to strengthen the capacity of women in the management of public services. UNAIDS has always supported and will continue to support initiatives that promote gender. But it must be acknowledged that women's participation in decision-making bodies in Côte d'Ivoire is still below the sub-Saharan average. Only 11% of women in the National Assembly and 27% in all decision-making bodies. What does not reach the 30% recommended before speaking of total equality is 50%. Yet various studies have shown that balanced participation in decision-making allows for fairer laws, and therefore a guarantee of stability, the senior UN official assured.
 
The canvas must therefore continue to expand. Euphrasia Kouassi Yao and her team intend to continue their hike inside the country, where women are the most vulnerable. Mariatou Koné, Minister of Solidarity, Women and Children, did not fail to stress that "legislative and legal reforms have been undertaken by the President of the Republic Alassane Ouattara since his accession to power. That was seen with the vote of the constitution of the 3rd Republic which protects the woman in its articles 35, 36 and 37. I encourage all the women to stand for the senatorial, regional and municipal elections for a better representativity, in decision-making bodies ", she invited.
 
The 2018 activities of the Compendium of Women's Skills of Côte d'Ivoire (COCOFCI) can thus start. Several meetings are planned across the country with in focus, the festivities of March 8, the International Women's Day.