Four thousand children parade through Abidjan on Sunday (December 13) to start the Ivory Coast's celebrations of International Children's Day.

The Ivoriens spread the celebrations over several days, and parades similar to those in the capital took place in centres throughout the country.

Justice Minister Camille Alliali and Work and Social Affairs Minister Vanie-Bi -Tra watched the celebrations in Abidjan's Houphouet-Boigny stadium.

M. Vanie-Bi-Tra is also the President of the National Children's Committee, and in a special message to the parents of Ivorien children he stressed that school instruction should not be considered sufficient, in itself, to fully prepare a child for a place in the adult world.

The Minister urged all parents to impress upon their children the moral qualities that would prove invaluable in helping young people to play useful roles in society.

To this end, the Children's Day celebrations throughout the Ivory Coast had been designed to encourage children in the spirit of co-operation and to prepare them for communal life.