MONROVIA — The minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, has said that the protection of Liberians and people of the West African region against internal and external security threats should be a priority of stakeholders within the region.
Minister Tweh noted that mitigating threats that have confronted citizens of Liberia and the West African region will go a long way in promoting economic, social and political inclusion and ensure a safer country, and region.
Minister Tweh spoke at the opening ceremonies of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) three-day workshop held in Monrovia recently.
It was aimed at strengthening the mechanism through the holding of an In-Country Support Facilitation Workshop for the established ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanism (ECO-PHSICM) in Liberia.
The workshop also focused on the revision of the mandates and functions of the National Center for the Coordination of Response Mechanisms (NCCRM) in Liberia within the ECOWAS framework. The NCCRM serves as an early warning response mechanism to notify authorities about potential threats to peace and security at a national, regional, or continental level.
Minister Oswald Tweh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Consolidated Mechanism.
“This is not merely a framework but a lifeline of our nation that embodies our collective resolve to prevent and respond to the numerous challenges that threaten the wellbeing and security of our people,” Tweh said.
He added that the establishment and operationalization of the national secretariat, NCCRM are vital steps towards a safer, healthier and a more just society.
The rationale and justification for the establishment of the NCCRM, which a majority of ECOWAS membership now has, is aimed at strengthening collaboration to tackle prevailing realities in the region with regards to Human Security and protection, specifically weakness in the rule of law and observance of fundamental human rights.
The mechanism also addresses general weakness in the administrative capacities of ECOWAS member states, with focuses on child protection and social protection system ,the prevalence of conflicts and humanitarian emergencies inclusive of natural disasters and health pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic and even the Ebola Virus Disease of 2024).
It was against these backdrops that ECOWAS Authority of Heads of states, the Commission on Humanitarian and Social Affairs initiated and is leading this effort aimed at strengthening mechanisms and developing necessary frameworks that will promote an integrated approach of addressing the many human security challenges.
Prince Gbardyu, who represented Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung at the ceremony, called for collaborative efforts to address the different issues that constitute national and regional security threats to the people of the region.
“Addressing the wellbeing of our people, and improving their living conditions should be of greater importance to us as stakeholders,” Gbardyu said. “Areas of national concerns such as economic, social and political remain the growing security threats that we must confront, and this is the relevance of our presence in this room.”
He noted that stakeholders need to advance concerted efforts to strategize mitigation plans that will promote harmonious national and regional security.
Nathaniel Walker, who represented the office of ECOWAS Liberia office, said human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding vulnerabilities and addressing such holistically with a focus on the individual, families and communities.
“ECOWAS is therefore committed to this and accelerating this approach in Liberia in crucial, relevant and timely,” Walker noted. “Mostly, in our sub-region, those affected are women and children, migrants, displaced persons (including refugees and Internally Let me point that), victims of human trafficking, Stateless Person.”
He described the training as crucial and demonstrates ECOWAS Human Security and Civil society Division commitment to addressing the plight of persons most affected by rights and human security violations emanating from the realities in the region.
“This workshop is a great platform and forum for creating an understanding of the challenges and planning critical next steps,” he added.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the media, CSOs, security sector, academia, youth and women groups, and others.
It ended with the adoption of an action plan to guide the implementation of the roadmap on the protection of human security.
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