CAMPAIGN: Local Women Leaders Discuss TRC Recommendations

Source: 
The Inquirer
Duration: 
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 20:00
Countries: 
Africa
Western Africa
Liberia
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding
Initiative Type: 
Campaigns

Women leaders in the western region have begun discussing the simplified version of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations in support of local transitional justice under the Liberia Peace Building Fund. The discussions are a follow-up to previous engagements the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) aimed at giving rural women the opportunity to have an input into the TRC final recommendations. WONGOSOL's Acting Executive Director, Marpue Speare with her team was in Tubmanburg, Bomi County from September 15 discussing and engaging 12 women leaders from Gbarpolu, Cape Mount and Bomi Counties, which makes up region one under the said project.

Madam Speare explained how some of the recommendations put forth by the women are being highlighted into the TRC final recommendations especially the women's component and the seven pillars of the transitional justice. The simplified cartoon version was also displayed at the meeting which aided the discussion and helped the women dialogue in the way forward. “In as much as government can play its part, women from the civil society organizations are also engaging other women on the different aspects of the report especially in the areas that directly affect them,” Madam Speare noted.

The six month project funded by the Liberia Peace Building Fund is a pilot project which will be taken to the other regions because according to the implementers, there are lots of cases that need attention and must be addressed. The intent of the project is to use the simplified version of the report and analyses of its weaknesses and strength as an entry point with the goal of providing communities with the knowledge and capacity to initiate their own action plans on ways to respond to the legacies of the Liberian conflict, promoting community-owned and long term reconciliation strategies.

The aim of the project is to also support community to come to terms with human rights violation of the past. It seeks also to reduce the tensions that continue to hinder and restore the relationships necessary for sustainable reconciliation, fostering national
reconciliation and conflict management.