TRC Kicks Off Mobilization

Friday, June 16, 2006

http://www.analystliberia.com/trc_kickoff_june16.html

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) is expected to kick off its community mobilization and sensitization this weekend with a jamboree featuring performances by an array of renowned Liberian artists. The exercise is intended to sensitize the public about the TRC process, what it is about, and what it would achieve.

According to a release from the TRC signed by its Commissioner on Media and Outreach, Massa Washington, the mass media campaign co-named Operation TRC Fatigue, is intended to create massive education and awareness of the TRC process, with the aim of ensuring that every resident within the confines of Liberia know about the TRC and grasp a better understanding of the Commission.

The strategy is to also create a TRC fatigue rather than have people not hear about the TRC at all.

Already, 16 TRC sensitization supervisors from Monrovia have been dispatched into the 15 counties and will be joined by more than 1, 200 county mobilizers trained by the TRC for the distribution of TRC messages, flyers, banners and posters into the rural areas.

On Saturday, June 17, 2006 a wide range of activities will take place commencing with a float display from the TRC office on Lynch Street and throughout the principle streets of Monrovia.

The day will be climaxed at the Sports Commission on Broad Street with performances by high profile Liberian artists including Livi Zinzway, Extra Ordinary (XO), Friday (the cell phone man), D-Trench, E-mass, Sauve, Sundaygar Dear-boy, Ladylove and King O’Bryant.

Others are Sandy Roberts, Theo Dahnkuah, Winston P. Kai, Real Nigga, Tony K, Tokai Tomah, Marie Nyenibo, Hawa Vertikeh, and Gameh Garter. According to the TRC, the awareness jamboree is also a prelude to the official launching of the TRC scheduled for Thursday, June 22, 2006 at the Centennial Pavilion on Ashmun Street at 10am.

Guest Speaker for the occasion will be the Head of the Good Governance Commission, and former President of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU), Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will serve a Launcher.

ACT Liberia Forum Expresses Concern

The ACT Liberia Forum expresses serious concern over recent reports published by the Save the Children UK in which she alleged the sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls and women in the IDP camps by camp officials, humanitarian workers, business men, peace keepers, government officials, teachers, for the sake of food, money and other services.

The ACT Forum in keeping with its International Code of Conduct categorically condemns any act of sexual exploitation against vulnerable girls and women by privileged individuals, particularly humanitarian workers who are paid to serve humanity during unfavorable circumstances.

The ACT Forum calls on all its members to ensure that their staff signs the Code of Conduct against sexual exploitation issued by ACT International Geneva Office in 2002. The Forum members are urged to create awareness by educating their staff on the danger of sexual exploitation and how to protect vulnerable people with emphasis on the ACT International Code of Conduct.

ACT Liberia Forum, which is a consortium of Church, and church related organizations with partnership to ACT International Geneva, has been working to save lives through humanitarian services during the emergency period.

Presently ACT Forum members in Liberia are engaged in post war rehabilitation, assisting IDPs return, and carrying out other community development projects.

ACT Liberia Forum members include Liberian Council of Churches (LCC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), Concerned Christian Community (CCC), and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA),

Others are, Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL), United Methodist Church (UMC), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Presbyterian Relief Service (PRS), World Hope International Liberia Ltd. (WHIL), Diakonie Emergency Aid and the Norwegian Church Aid.