GPPAC Consultation in
the Gambia
See Consultation in Pictures
National Context
The
Gambia is another country
considered by many as an ‘oasis of peace’ in
West Africa. The country has enjoyed political
stability with no overt violent conflict over the past decade.
However, political suppression, tribalism, corruption and
mismanagement of resources, land disputes, unemployment, and
poverty have continued to threaten peace and human security of
the country. Political suppression and violation of
fundamental human rights such as extra judicial killings and the
impediment to freedom of expression has created internal unrest
and political tension. These violations, coupled with the
proliferation of small arms and light weapons within the
Senegambia
region has contributed significantly to outbreaks of violence,
heightening human insecurity in the country. Though the
government is gradually opening up to partnership with civil
society the relationship can best be described as top-bottom and
highly selective.
The Consultation
The
Gambia
consultation took place from 30-31st May, 2006.
35 participants representing various organizations took part.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of a
representative from ECOWAS, the Permanent Secretary of
Parliament, the Board Chairperson of WANEP-The Gambia and the
WANEP Regional Program Manager. In their separate opening
remarks the dignitaries underscored the fact that peace and
security ranked high on the agenda of the sub-region and for
that matter The Gambia. WANEP Regional Program Manager, Ms.
Oury Traore
highlighted the efforts at the global level by the UN and CSOs
to build partnership for effective conflict prevention through
the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Violent Conflict
(GPPAC). The Permanent Secretary of Parliament noted that
Governments, CSOs and the community are forming partnerships
through which the people themselves identify their human
security needs and find ways to address them. He cited the
celebrated example of the collaboration between the Government
of The Gambia and WANEP-The Gambia in the campaign against the
proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The
Board Chairpersons Ms. Yadi Njei Eribo found the theme of the
consultation “Promoting Human Security and Sustainable Peace
through Collective Action” most appropriate in context of The
Gambian. In declaring the Consultation officially opened
the ECOWAS Rep. expressed the hope that with the developing of
the WANEP-ECOWAS early warning and early response system (ECOWARN),
conflicts will be detected earlier and adequately addressed to
avert violence because of the invaluable contribution of CSOs.
The two-day consultation created space for
CSOs to do a context analysis of The Gambia in regards to
conflict. Salient thematic conflict issues identified from the
analysis included elections, human rights violations,
proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, lack freedom of
expression, and intolerance. Participants developed
strategies/action plans to strengthen their capacity and enhance
collaboration among CSOs and, between CSOs and Government to
enable them effectively prevent violent conflict and promote
human security. They committed to forming a Conflict Prevention
Forum. The Forum is intended to collaborate with The Gambia
Civil Society Forum and serve as the conflict prevention cluster
within it.
In order to ensure coordination and follow up
of the implementation of the action plan, a working group of six
organizations was formed with the mandate to ensure the
implementation and realization of the Action Plan; mobilize
resources (human and financial); link with the state and
non-state actors in conflict prevention and resolution; give
feedback to its members; organize meetings; make statements on
national peace and security matters in consultation with
members.
See Consultation in Pictures