For
a guaranteed peace, freedom and peaceful co-existence in the country, The
AfriCare Initiative (TAI) in collaboration with other peace advocates in The
Gambia have earmarked 15th and 16th November 2019 to host National Dialogue
called “The Peace Conference.”
The
two-day national dialogue which will be held through a conference in Banjul, is
meant to discourse issues relating to the maintenance of peace and reconcile
divided Gambians ahead of the proposed December protest which might bring chaos
and destabilize the peace of the nation.
Among
other things, The Peace Conference aims at building capacities and
strengthening engagement of Civil Society Organisations, three years/five years
‘Jotna’ Groups, government agencies, UN Agencies and other concerned
institutions in The Gambia on a national discourse on the state of the matter
ahead of the planned ‘December Protest.’
Commenting
on the event, Marie Sock, director of The AfriCare Initiative said the
conference seeks to promote and strengthen youth leadership skills for good
governance and democracy.
She
added that it will also enhance the participation of young people in decision
making skills and electoral processes promote human rights and related concepts
and encourage women to participate in democratic processes.
Madam
Sock noted that CSOs from different levels are communicating on a regular
basis, they are inspired and empowered to speak in a coherent manner to a wider
range of stakeholders. Also expanding their capacity to be involved in policy
discussions, implementation and monitoring thereof.
She
stressed that government and development actors in The Gambia must collaborate
and accelerate efforts to facilitate the creation or strengthening of platforms
for civil society groups and movements in the promotion of peace and
maintaining peaceful co-existence in the country.
The
conference, she said will be an opportunity for CSOs in the country that are
already promoting peace, to come together in this pursuit. Noting that if this
put into good use, many believe would drive the country to rapid economic
transformation, socio-cultural advancement and political development.
However,
she said, the Gambia’s unity and development depends on how well its civic
resources are nurtured, deployed and utilized.
The
Conference, on the theme: Rethinking and Acting on the Situations of the New
Gambia: Giving Peace a Chance for a Better Co-existence’ will be hosted by The
AfriCare Initiative with Gambian Peace Activist James F Mendy.
As
part of the pre-conference activities among other things, AfriCare Initiative
as local organizer will invite renowned activists and CSOs within the country
including the Three Years Jotna team. This will enable them to share their
stories and dialogue peacefully on a positive way out to avoid chaos in December.
Also,
TAI is in consultation with experts on the challenges that are the contributing
factors towards the increase in shrinking space of civil society organisations
in West Africa which is to be identified.
However,
the conference thematic areas of discussion include democracy and human rights,
conflicts and its damages, Diasporas influence among others.
