GPPAC Consultation in Liberia

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National context
Liberia is considered the oldest republic in Africa. This image was later replaced by the atrocities of civil war, including a large number of deaths, refugees and internally displaced people, and the consequent destruction of the human dignity. With well over a decade of war, instability, insecurity, proliferation of small arms, gross violation of human rights and constant deprivation of basic human needs, the country’s future seemed gloomy. However, with ECOWAS’ active engagement and commitment to finding lasting solutions and with the support of the international community to help Liberia regain its lost glory, the country made significant progress, culminating in the 2005 general elections which were considered as the most free and fair in the history of the country. Today Liberia is governed by Africa’s first female president, and is engaged in a reconstruction process geared towards bringing Liberia back to its rightful place.  With the support of both sub-regional and international actors in the process of rebuilding the country, it is important to note that in order to establish a sustainable democratic process, the involvement of civil society actors is imperative, as they are important contributors to democratic change.

The consultation
Considering the background of the Liberian situation and in view of the important role of civil society in the prevention of armed conflict, it was quite timely and strategic to institute GPPAC in the country.

The Liberian consultation took place from 5^th to 6^th December, 2006 with a total of 28 participants. One of the key themes of the consultation was the need for collaborative approaches to alleviating violent conflict in the country, while recognising the role and contributions of civil society as critical to democratic governance and sustainable peace. Participants discussed issues affecting post-conflict Liberia, and drew up an action plan that focused on growth and development in post-conflict Liberia.

Key issues that emerged during the consultation included:

• Political exclusion
• Illegal importation of small arms (fuels conflicts).
• Proliferation of small arms and light weapons
• Land tenure system
• Ethnic tensions
• Culture and religion
• Corruption
• Unfair labour practice
• Human rights violations
• Economic marginalisation
• Lack of access to resources
• Governance issues

After extensive discussion and deliberation, the participants adopted a six count resolution that was presented to the President of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

See Consultation in Pictures