CPS National Coordinators: Sharing Experiences, Challenges, Approaches and Strategies to Promote Peaceful Elections.

CPS National Coordinators from Cameroon, DR Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone gathered in Monrovia, Liberia to attend the CPS Coordinators Peer Learning Meeting from July 5-7, 2022.

Following the opening program on day one, there were presentations from CPS Coordinators on causes and effects of youth election violence on national and social cohesion and approaches of CPS partners to empower youths to prevent elections violence that promotes national and social cohesion, followed by exchanges and discussions. 

The meeting aimed for CPS National Coordinators appreciate the local and contemporary methods used to promote peaceful elections among youths in their communities; learn more about the electoral processes in their various countries and learn new strategies to eliminate youths elections violence. 

The National Coordinators shared experiences gained with their counterparts during youths non-violence elections dialogues held in four counties in Liberia. 

During the Peer Learning Meeting, CPS National Coordinators from the four countries shared best practices in strengthening youth dialogue and resolution for peace in communities. 

Four presentations were made with CPS Liberia Coordinators reporting that many young people are involved in mob justice; inadequate youth capacities and high youth unemployment; patronage politics has given rise to violence.

There is weak drugs law, which has serious impact on violence, as drug lords are easily bailed out.

CPS Liberia Partners also shared with their counterparts, a number of interventions or approaches to prevent youth elections violence in Liberia, which are being implemented by CPS Liberia Partners that include: life skills and livelihood skills empowerment to enable the youths make sound decisions and generate income to meet their daily livelihood needs; holding of non-violence elections dialogues with politically active youths in Bomi, Margibi, Montserrado and Sinoe Counties.

The CPS Liberia Partners Network has also provided pyscho-social training and support through anti-drugs awareness dialogue and advocacy to strengthen drugs law; holding of non-violence elections dialogue with politically active youths in four counties among many other approaches.

CPS Partners Sierra Leone during their presentation described the issue of unemployment, anger among many youths as some of the factors responsible for youths violence. They noted that job opportunities are being given to youths who are used to perpetuate violence, the use of illicit drugs among young people, and political related issues prior to the 2023/2024 elections. The Coordinators also noted high level of breakdown in law and order and constitutional breaches.

 

They informed the meeting that the Sierra Leone YMCA Subject to Citizens (S2C) approach, model is being used by CPS Partners in reaching out to young people. The S2C approach is a youth program that engages young people to see themselves as citizens and not subjects, and also as agents of change.
Other interventions by CPS Partners Sierra Leone include working with youth groups in sending out peace messages through Social media against violence.Sharing their experience, strategies and approach, Cameroun CPS Coordinators said they have organized training with youths to build and reinforce their capacities, organize workshop and focal group discussions; youths are trained prior to campaign and elections period to become actively involved in electoral processes and peace building training after elections.

 

 

For the Democratic Republic of Congo they named support for youths and adolescent girls; capacity building, thematic training, exchange visits, raising awareness and dialogue with authorities as some of the approaches against violence by young people.

 

Back in their respective countries, CPS National Coordinators from the four countries will work to implement different approaches and strategies to enhance youth participation in ensuring peaceful elections as a result of the peer Learning Meeting.

 

Written by: Emmanuel S. King, Jr.