In line with its Mission Statement, the Center for Security Studies and Development (CENSSAD) has completed a one-day intensive training workshop on peace building and local security in Bo Waterside at the Liberian Sierra Leonean border.
The training, which was held under the theme: “Utilizing Local Voices to Promote Positive Peace and Local Security in Border communities”. The workshop brought together 40 representatives from border security, traditional leaders, commercial motorcyclists, women and youth leaders living in border communities from Liberia and Sierra Leone. The workshop was facilitated by its lead convener, Mr. Richelieu Allison, who is the Executive Director of CENSSAD.
Mr. Allison, who recently returned from Lagos, Nigeria, where he completed an intensive training as part of the Rotary West and Central Africa Peace Activators Training on the eight pillars of positive peace, drilled the participants on a number of topics relating to the pillars of positive peace, including Well functioning government, equitable distribution of wealth, free flow of information, sound business environment, good relationship with neighbors, Acceptance of the Rights of Others, High Levels of Human Capital, and Low Levels of Corruption.
Mr. Allison stressed that harmonious relations with other countries or between ethnic, religious and cultural groups in border communities are vital for peace. He called for a people to security approach to peace building and security in border communities.
The main objectives of the workshop were to enforce the capacity of participants to effectively engage in peace-building and reconciliation programs in local communities, and at the same time build peace and security in border communities.
During the workshop, participants were also introduced to new approaches to conflict analysis and peace building tools, and were able to share their own experiences among themselves, reflecting on cross-cutting issues, such as sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), local governance, reconciliation, at regional, national and local levels, a press release from CENSAD said.