The Complexe socio-éducatif de Soubré in Côte d'Ivoire recently hosted consultations with local actors, including students, child victims of violence, community leaders, and civil society organizations. The meetings, which took place on September 22-23, 2026, aimed to gather feedback on the country's efforts to protect children from violence. The consultations were conducted by agents of the socio-educational complex, which falls under the regional direction of the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children.
The consultations were part of a national assessment of Côte d'Ivoire's commitments to eliminating violence against children, as made during the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024. The discussions focused on securing school environments, improving intervention and support services for children, and strengthening community engagement and participation. Data collection and monitoring of child violence were also addressed.
According to Konaté Doignin, head of the Soubré socio-educational complex, the consultations aimed to give a voice to children, victims, community leaders, and civil society organizations to gather their experiences and assess progress in child protection. The participants provided proposals to strengthen local mechanisms for preventing and addressing child violence. The goal was not only to identify challenges but also to generate concrete suggestions for improving child protection in the Nawa region.
The consultations in Soubré were part of a national exercise led by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Children, with support from UNICEF, to assess progress since the Bogotá commitments and identify new engagements for the second World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence against Children, scheduled for November 17-18, 2026, in Manila, Philippines. The assessment aims to measure progress and inform new commitments to eliminate violence against children.
The participants in the Soubré consultations included students, child victims of violence, community leaders, and representatives of civil society organizations. They shared their experiences and provided feedback on the current state of child protection in the region. The consultations also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss challenges and identify areas for improvement in preventing and addressing child violence.
The national assessment of Côte d'Ivoire's commitments to eliminating violence against children is a critical step towards achieving the country's goals in this area. The consultations in Soubré and other regions will inform the development of new strategies and interventions to prevent and address child violence. The Ministry of Women, Family, and Children, with support from UNICEF, is leading the assessment and will present the findings at the upcoming World Ministerial Conference.
The efforts of the Côte d'Ivoire government, in collaboration with local actors and international partners, demonstrate a commitment to protecting children from violence. The consultations in Soubré and the national assessment exercise reflect a proactive approach to addressing this critical issue. By engaging with local stakeholders and gathering feedback, the government can develop more effective strategies to prevent and address child violence, ultimately creating a safer environment for children in Côte d'Ivoire.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire conducts consultations with local actors to assess child protection efforts and gather feedback on eliminating violence against children.
- The consultations aim to inform the development of new strategies and interventions to prevent and address child violence.
- The national assessment exercise will inform Côte d'Ivoire's commitments at the second World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence against Children.
