By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Trocaire, in partnership with Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) and USAID, has held a one-day multi-stakeholders engagement to inform the public about the People-to-People project.
The training took place at Vanilla Complex, Aberdeen, and Freetown on 21st May 2024.
In her statement, the Project Manager for People-to-People (P2P) Landya Ade-William explained “the institutions we have selected are the ones focusing on peace building and women and youth empowerment,” of which she hoped they can have guidance from their expertise that will further their interventions in promoting peacebuilding and governance.
The Chief of Party for Trocaire Sierra Leone, Samuel Konkofa Koroma explained how the project is to prevent and mitigate politically motivated violence, and empower women and youth to have increased voice in leadership roles.
He said the livelihood of women and youth in Sierra Leone remain limited and that they face “significant” barriers such as stigmatization, discrimination and high level of employment.
He noted the project was borne from the politically motivated violence that has happened from 2018 to 2023.
“The drivers of conflict include political tension and intimidation, increased cost of living, hate speech and discrimination, marginalization and violence against women, land rights and access to resources, “he said.
They have trained over 750 peace ambassadors across the country, the forming of ten community theater groups in five districts, among others.
A representative from the Office of National Security (ONS) Issa Belmond Thullah said: “The essence is for us to identify threats from national to chiefdom level and also to prevent conflicts emanating from these threats.”
He assured that the country is peaceful as they assess threats on a daily basis.
The Finance Officer, Women’s Forum Sierra Leone, Boima Miller thanked Trocaire, USAID and CGG for the P2P project.
According to Miller, the importance of women and Youths in peacebuilding in Sierra Leone “cannot be overstated,” adding that the country has faced numerous challenges over the years, but with the involvement of women and youth as leaders, they can forge a path to sustainable peace and development.
“Women Forum Sierra Leone has long been committed to empowering women and youth, ensuring their voices are heard and their potential realized,” she added. The Finance Officer explained how the Women's Forum has also helped in collaborating with the government on various gender legislative measures, citing the Gender Empowerment Bill.
She registered the forum’s support for the P2P project.
A representative from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, Henryson Jusu said: “The Commission has diligently taken measures to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts, while promoting and sustaining peace across Sierra Leone”. He noted that the training of peace monitors across 16 districts has empowered local stakeholders to contribute to conflict resolutions within their communities.
He explained how the commission has mediated peace dialogue between the government and the main opposition, All Peoples Congress (APC), and facilitated engagement between political parties.
The people –to- people project operates in the districts of Kono, Karene, Bombali, Kambia and Western Area Rural.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (27/05/24)
