By Nyeman Nma, Jr.
The United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) along with the Peacebuilding Office and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has concluded two regional trainings with over 160 participants including traditional leaders, Civil Society Organizations, women and youth groups, community peace committees and religious leaders on early warning and early response in Grand Bassa and Bong Counties.
OHCHR human rights officer, Atty. Roosevelt Jayjay said the EWER trainings around the country are intended to build the capacity of participants for the early detection and timely reporting of issues that could lead to the escalation of violence, identify and addressing possible causes of conflict, and advance recommendations to mitigate probable violent conflict situations before, during and after the electoral period.
Atty. Jayjay told participants that the government and citizens should work together to foster peaceful coexistence because they are the primary beneficiaries of rapid early warning alerts and are regarded as the main response actors.
“You are to work with state actors to standardize mechanism and tools used for data collection engaging in credible forecasting based on in-depth analysis of high-risk issues,” Atty. Jayjay observed. He added that information received will develop and strengthen early response capacity by effectively linking with response actors and engaging in first-stage early response activities such as third-party intervention.
He furthered that participants will use knowledge gained to create a civic space where all citizens including of women and vulnerable groups will participate in the elections void of intimidation by political actors and their supporters.
EWER Analyst/Coordinator Peace Building Office officer at the Peacebuilding Office, Sheikh Kamara, disclosed that the Peacebuilding Office will provide technical support to member organizations to enable them to engage in critical EWER work in Liberia, especially during the electoral period.
Mr. Kamara noted that EWER activities are designed with the expectations that the needed resources and support of all participating communities would be available for communities to engage with national and local actors to ensure a peaceful environment for all to exercise their rights in the October 2023 election without any form of intimidation.
“There are three major main issues such as civic space, youths and the illegal trade/use or abuse of drugs that influence violence during electoral processes in Liberia. We have to work with you, our community and traditional people, CSO, CBO, CSO EWER volunteers to ensure that you report issues that could lead to the outbreak of violence in your communities during these critical times in our country history,” Mr. Kamara said.
In Grand Bassa County, the Grand Chief Zoe of Rivercess, Koffi Czar, said that peace cannot be achieved in the absence of national actors such as the police, Immigration, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and other national security and community actors.
He noted that these institutions will have to ensure that peace prevails in the country before, during and after the elections in Liberia.
“The highest priority issue in every community is security and we, community peace should use its early warning mechanism to report every sign of threat to the state security institutions for early response.,” Mr. Kamara warned.
