Félix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize: First Lady Dominique Ouattara attends the event alongside the President of the Republic 

Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, hosted the award ceremony for the prestigious Felix Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The event was held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, in the presence of numerous personalities, including the President of the Republic, H.E.M. Alassane Ouattara, and the First Lady, Madame Dominique Ouattara.

The 2024 edition of the Prize crowned Mr. António Luís Santos da Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, hailed for his commitment to multilateralism and sustainable development. His exemplary action was recognized as a model of responsible governance and promotion of the universal values cherished by UNESCO. In addition, two children from the First Lady’s reception center, together with international football player Max Alain Gradel, presented two official shirts of the Ivorian national soccer team and the CAN 2023 ball.

A special prize was also awarded to Fundación AZÚCAR, headed by Sonia Viveros. This organization was singled out for its outstanding work in favor of the rights of Afro-descendants, thus contributing to the construction of a more fair and inclusive world.

 

An event dedicated to peace and culture

In addition, the President of the Republic decided to honor Mrs Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, for her contribution to the promotion of the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Prize. She was thus elevated to the rank of Commander of the National Order of Côte d’Ivoire.

The ceremony was punctuated by keynote speeches, addressing contemporary challenges to peace and international dialogue, and artistic performances, illustrating the essential role of culture as a vector for bringing peoples together and promoting a culture of peace.

With this award, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to a world founded on tolerance, cooperation and mutual respect. This event will bring together leading figures in peace and international dialogue to celebrate these exemplary commitments.

Created in 1989, this prize rewards personalities, institutions or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the promotion, research and preservation of peace, in accordance with UNESCO’s values and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Mr. António Luís Santos da Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, has donated his prize to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In October 2024, President Alassane Ouattara was designated Patron of the Felix Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize.

Protection of women: Dr Denis Mukwege impressed by the Adiake “Safe Home” for women

 

On the sidelines of the Felix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize award ceremony, which he attended in Abidjan, Dr Denis Mukwege, the famous Congolese gynecologist nicknamed “the man who fixes women”, paid a visit to women living in the “Safe Home” in Adiake on Friday May 23, 2025.

Accompanied by Nadine Sangaré, Director of the Children of Africa Foundation, Dr. Mukwege was keen to discover this emblematic facility, the fruit of First Lady Dominique Ouattara’s commitment to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). The visit was also attended by Dr Kouamé Gisèle, Director of the National Program for the Fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Mme Silué Nanfo, Director of the ”Safe Home” and many other personalities.

On his arrival at the center, Dr Denis Mukwege was received in the meeting room for a working session with the center’s staff. The meeting gave him an overview of the center’s operations, how  GBV victims are referred, legal follow-up, medical and psychological care for victims, and many other questions that the illustrious visitor was kind enough to share with Ms Silué Lonfo, Director of the center; Dr. Kouamé Gisèle, head of the National Program for the Fight Against GBV; and Ms. Nadine Sangaré, Director of the Children Of Africa Foundation. Impressed by the scale and quality of the center, Dr. Mukwege congratulated the First Lady on this initiative, underlining the importance of such a facility to help gender-based violence victims.  “I co-chaired a G7 meeting on gender inequality, and one of the recommendations was that there should be centers of this kind in every city in France, because the problem is the same. Today, I think there are maybe ten or so. It’s not enough (…) When you see the center from the outside, I can’t help but be impressed. Congratulations to the First Lady,” said Dr. Denis Mukwege at the meeting. Accompanied by Mrs Nadine Sangaré and the center’s staff, the distinguished guest then visited the various facilities of this modern reception center, now considered one of the largest and best equipped in the sub-region in the field of women’s protection. He visited the psychologist’s office, the infirmary, the social worker’s office, the supervisors’ rooms, the dormitories, the multi-purpose room, the reading room, the relaxation room, the kitchens, the dining room, the training rooms, the classrooms and the sports field.

Inaugurated on April 10, 2025, the is a flagship project of the Children of Africa Foundation. The facility was achieved with the funds raised at the Foundation’s 8th gala dinner, during which Mrs. Dominique Ouattara mobilized resources for the implementation  of two major initiatives: the reconstruction of the Children’s Hut and the construction of a center for women in distress.

Conceived as a true haven of peace, the women’s centre provides a secure and caring environment for victims. It has a capacity of 100 beds for women and 12 beds for children, and offers various services. The center extends over a 2-hectare site on the edge of the lagoon, offering an environment conducive to personal reconstruction and reintegration. The Adiaké centre embodies renewed hope for thousands of Ivorian and African women, while consolidating Côte d’Ivoire as a committed player in the defense of human rights and women’s dignity.

Dr Denis Mukwege is a gynecologist and human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nicknamed “the man who fixes women”, he has received numerous distinctions for his commitment against genital mutilation practiced on women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Sakharov Prize in 2014 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018