Monrovia – NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development with support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) organized the first in series of Regional Dialogues on the Role of Young People to Support a Peaceful Post-Electoral Environment at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor.
The event brought together 75 participants including youth leaders from political parties, the Federation of Liberian Youth, the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, Liberian National Students Union, young professionals, political enthusiasts, media and civil society leaders, etc.
Participants discussed issues and concerns to young people as the nation prepares for the runoff election, lessons Learnt from political transitions in other African Countries, understanding the difference between electoral irregularities and electoral fraud, understanding the reconciliation, counting and tallying of results, understanding the election law Section 10.2 A (Election Offences), Returns Of Election Results (Article 83 C), Hearing based on complaint regulation and due process, factors that could increase the risk of election related violence in Liberia and mitigating the risks of electoral related violence.
Other issues discussed during the various working sessions included: The role of young people during the first round, the role of young people before, during and after the runoff election and an action plan and next steps to promote peaceful elections especially among young people was developed.
Atty. Oscar Bloh facilitated the dialogue; he was appreciated highly by the participants for his participatory facilitation skills and knowledge of the issues.
“These kinds of dialogues are important, it brings people with different political opinions together and it makes us feel that we are one people, jointly finding solutions to our country’s problems” Mr. Alphonso Madeh, a graduate of the Young Political Leadership School and member of the Liberty Party.
Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, the Chief of Peace Consolidation Services at the United Nations Mission in Liberia warned young people to see elections not as a zero-sum game where one wins and all loses but as a competition of ideas in the interest of your country.
Dr. Kai-Kai also appreciated NAYMOTE for organizing the event and its role in engaging young people to ensure that they are active participants in the political process.
“Liberia’s youths will be most affected by change and also have the potential to be the most powerful agents of change. The political and civic consciousness of the Liberian youth remains the key to assisting the advancement of Liberia’s democracy.
As an institution, NAYMOTE remains committed to strengthening young people capacity to contribute toward the advancement of democracy through the Young Political Leadership School and other civic engagement initiatives including the youth dialogue, which will be organized in four regions across Liberia. O
“Our institution is building the generation of great and transformational leaders for a better Liberia”, S. Aaron Weah-Weah,III, Program Director of NAYMOTE.
These dialogues will continue in the southern, eastern, and central regions of the Liberia in the coming weeks.