On the eve of October 13, 2018 local elections, PLANETE PAIX initiated, as part of its program “Peace Digital Elections, a conference on the issue: “Local Elections: What issues and challenges for Young People in Côte d’Ivoire? “. Mr. Hervé Dalmas KOKOU, Director of Amnesty International Cote d’Ivoire, the speaker of the day noted the need for young people to go to information in general and to learn about the electoral process. Moreover, according to him, young people represent the highest rate in terms of percentage. As a result, they must become aware of their role and their weight in the political and electoral game. Mr. Hervé Dalmas KOKOU, highlighted two issues related to local elections namely, political issues and economic issues.

Addressing political issues, he stressed that young people must understand the true meaning of politics as guarantor of the advancement of society. For him, good involvement and understanding of politics is the bedrock of social peace. In terms of economic issues, he made it clear that participatory, transparent and peaceful elections are the guarantor of any economic development.

After explaining the challenges facing young people before, during and after the elections, he urged young people not to become a human shield and an electoral battle.

The speaker concluded by inviting all participants to exercise their right to vote and stand for their rights in general for a peaceful and prosperous society.

Participants stressed the need to implement this activity of such importance on a large scale and throughout the territory. The participants stressed the need to implement this activity of such importance on a large scale and throughout the territory.

They also undertook to vote the candidates according to the content of their social project and no longer according to their social status, their ethnicity, their region or religion. Thus, before any vote they will work to check if the candidate has a project. If so, they will consider whether the candidate’s project is SMART ie Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Realizable in certain period of Time.