The reason for the prolong armed conflict in Sierra Leone was lack of political
equity, government unaccountability, antidemocratic tactics, inequitable distribution
of resources, poverty, health care, high level of illiteracy and unemployment.
The eleven years war escalated in 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front
intensifies its attack near the border with Liberia. This systematic perpetration
of violence left more than 200,000 people dead mainly youth (A Case Study of
Youth in conflict Sierra Leone 2000).
However physical violence, including rape sexual abuse, amputation of
limbs was prevalent and the disintegration of communities place tremendous
burden on the national and international communities. Sexual violence or
abuses affects our young population resulting in the transmission of diseases
including STI and HIV/AID and unwanted pregnancies. Moreover a state
needs to be reconstructed and this applies not only to its socio- economic
infrastructure but also to its human resources and we have tailored activities
to the specific needs of the population at grassroots.
In order to address the above issue of peace building and development
in the Country, the peace building and development units has the following
mandate:
- Focus on capacity building
- Advocacy for peace building and development
- Enforcing the fundamental principle of the rule of law and separation
of power through Advocacy
- Promote livelihood support
- Promote equal rights and justice in every institution
- Advocate against discrimination, racism, tribalism sectionalism, regionalism
and nepotism
- Encourage the participation of women in politics and the stages of
development
The Peace Building unit is concerned about how to promote peace campaign
for sustainable development. Although the human development reports continues
to frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity
in Sierra Leone the success about various reports depends on our respect
for democracy, the rule of law and our socio economic, cultural political
development. The absence of democracy, the rule of law and genuine economic
activities affect the lives of our vulnerable people. The areas promoting
peace and effective economic activities would facilitate growth and sustainable
development.
AMNet as a humanitarian organization having been involved in the campaign
to promote peace and maintaining the absent of violence, using advocacy
as an instrument to reconstruct our economic activities into a countrywide
initiative. Across the world, Sierra Leone is placed at the bottom of the
UN Human Development Index Report 2007 primarily because of conflict and
poor living standard. The Peace Building and Development Unit have put
human right in the context of advocating for external and internal help
to support indigenous, social, cultural, economic development and self
reliance by aiding recovery from war thereby reducing or eliminating the
resort to future violence.
- Conference on Political Tolerance during and after election on the
3rd August 2007 at Miatta conference hall
- Organizing of radio campaign at different station across the country
on political tolerance, violence free election and Political Reconciliation
- Staff and Volunteers serve as voluntary domestic observers during the
electioneering process.
- In collaboration with civil society action group and other NGOs
carried out massive street campaign on Political Tolerance, voter sensitization
and voter education.
- 1991 Sierra Leone constitution
- Millennium Development Goal
- Poverty reduction strategy paper
- Anti corruption Act 2000
- United Nation development index 2007
- Independent media commission Act
- National Youth Policy
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