– A Peacebuilding project Launched by Her Voice & Partners
By: Leila B. Gbati
Her Voice Liberia, in collaboration with UNDP and the United Nations for Peace Building, have launched a community-driven project aimed at intensifying the need for a peaceful conduct of the October 2023 general and presidential elections.
The project, tagged “Community Initiative for Peaceful Elections in Liberia 2023,” was officially launched on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, Liberia.
Giving an overview of the program, the Head of Programs and Project Coordinator of Her Voice Liberia, Rufus Jackson, disclosed that the project will be taking place in River Gee, Sinoe, Grand Kru, and Maryland Counties.
He said the project is intended to support community-based structures, especially where there is a gap, in order to have peaceful elections in October of this year.
According to him, the document was signed on November 17, 2022, and will run through July 31, 2023.
Rufus indicated that the direct beneficiaries for the project are about 225, while the indirect beneficiaries are about 150.
He added that their expectation for the project is to create an environment where youth and women inclusive communities watch team structuring and restructuring security and infrastructure, Community policing, LNP, LIS and other law enforcement agencies are supposed to undertake effective early warning and response on electoral conflicts.
In a special remark, the Chief Technical Advisor of UNDP, Dr. Rowland Cole, said he believes that the project is important for protecting the peace, especially considering how long the electoral periods are.
He explained that elections are participatory and important, which is reflected in one of the committees both globally and in the African region.
“The African Chapter, Article 13, guarantees the rights of every citizen to participate in elections freely.” Elections is a participatory process but it is also about contestation for power and that contest price is very high so it is important that we focus on a peaceful election,” he said.
Dr. Cole also emphasized that the project’s goal is to ensure that communities remain peaceful before, during, and after election processes and that all disputes among Liberians are resolved.
He noted that the project is also meant to ensure that community peace is very critical and that the involvement of law enforcement officers is also of great essence.
“That is why the LNP is involved in this project—to work closely with community dwellers so that they can trust the police to be able to address their issues.” “We hope and trust that this project continues, and we will see coordination between the community and law enforcement officers.”
Dr. Cole used the time to call on communities to feel free to give information to the police and other law enforcement offices in order to prevent issues of misunderstanding and violence in the community.
“This project will be able to strengthen and ensure that the election is peaceful and participatory,” he said.
Also in special remark, representing the National Election Commission (NEC) Boss, Madam Davidetta Browne Lassana, a representative from NEC extended her appreciation to “Her Voice Liberia” for the project.
According to her, NEC is committed to ensuring that elections in Liberia are transparent, credible, and peaceful.
However, she said another way to do that is by working with partners such as Her Voice and other stakeholders in the area of elections.
At the same time, she urged every Liberian to start to partake in the elections process beginning with the voter roll which is scheduled to take place from March 20-May 11, 2023.
The launch of the project brought together over twenty participants from various security agencies, including the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), as well as national and international stakeholders.
