Liberian stakeholders, ECOWAS adopt roadmap on improving protection, human security

Wed, Sep 21, 2022

By editor

3 MIN READ

THE Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs in the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs organized a three-day Coordination and Capacity Building Workshop for Multi-Stakeholders in the Republic of Liberia involving Ministries, State Institutions, Agencies, CSOs (Civil Society Organizations), the Organized Private Sector, the Media and Partners.

The Workshop Component is part of a two-phase Activity in Liberia aimed at the development and adoption of a Roadmap; as well as the establishment of an ECOWAS Integrated Protection and Human Security Coordination Mechanism (ECO-PHSICM), hosted at the highest level of Government.

The overall purpose of the activity is to strengthen the Protection and Human Security architectures in all ECOWAS Members and Liberia is the seventh Member State to benefit from this intervention. The other Member States are The Gambia, Sierra Lone, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo and Niger. 

At the Opening Ceremony, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, H.E. Josephine Nkrumah, in her Welcome Speech said the ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanism when established in Liberia will promote the rights of people to live in freedom and promote dignity with equal opportunities to enjoy their rights and develop their human potential. She therefore maintained that the Intervention to improve coordination in responding to human security issues requires the commitment of all stakeholders.

Goodwill Messages were received from the following persons: President of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Loreta Popekai; United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, NIELS Scott; Representative of the Office of the Vice President of Liberia, Ciatta H. Clarke; Representative of the Legislature, Hon. Rosana GDH Schaack; Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Williametta E. Saydee Tarr; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, F. Musah Dean; and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Tanneh Brunson, who afterwards declared the Workshop open. All the Speakers reiterated the commitment of the Government and People of the Republic of Liberia towards the enthronement of protection and human security in Liberia in particular and the region in general.

In her Overview of the Workshop, the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, represented by Osondu Ekeh, Project Officer, OCWAR-T Project in the Human security in Liberia, amongst other recommendations.

In closing, the ECOWAS Commission reiterated its commitment in supporting the Government and People of Liberia and indeed other Member States in improving the protection and human security for all ECOWAS citizens and for all persons within the region.

The Workshop was very well attended and participants included ECOWAS Staff, ECOWAS National Office, Liberia; Office of the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia; ECOWAS Radio Liberia, Liberian Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other State Institutions including: Gender, Children and Social Protection; Justice; Finance and Development Planning; Defence; Internal Affairs; and Health and Social Welfare. Others include: NCCRM; Liberia

Institute for Statistical and Geo Information Services (LISGIS); Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA); Liberia National Police (LNP); Liberia Chamber of Commerce; Liberia Immigration Service; Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission; Inter-Religious Council of Liberia; National Civil Society Council of Liberia; The Legislature; Office of the Vice President; Press Council of Liberia; The Children Parliament of Liberia. Other Civil Society Organisations/ Networks include: WANEP; FLY; Traditional Council of Liberia; LNBA;