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| Liberia - Malcom, Women and Children Rehabilitation Resource Centre (WOCHIRRC) |
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| We are tired of war and are ready to learn, so with these measures there can be peace and stability in Liberia, as well as Africa... |
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Point of view 2 of 5
 This is the welcoming speech, Malcolm, a former boy soldier and now ex-combatant educator, delivered to members of UNESCO during their recent visit to WOCHIRRC’s training centre.
"Today marks an historical day in our lives, where we have the opportunity to express ourselves as ex-combatants, children in need and war-affected youths, as a result of the civil crisis in our land for the past fourteen years. During these years, we have been suppressed and intimidated by our so-called politicians and warlords. We believe there was a calculated plan to destabilize the educational system of our beloved country – Liberia - just in order to continue acts of corruption in an atmosphere of illiteracy and ignorance.
Today, we are neglected and rejected in our society where we were not the real cause of the conflict but were manipulated by some evil people. Today, we are what we are because of the decisions of some of our own Liberians who said they were politicians and liberators. Now that our society is in complete disunity and illiteracy, is this not illness? Remember only medical doctors can discuss the cure for an illness. Thanks be to God that there is a solution to these illnesses. I am kindly asking the UN, UNESCO, ECOWAS, AMESTY INTERNATIONAL and other relevant agencies to please give us the opportunity to at least attend one of the conferences that will be discussing the following topics:
1. The proliferation of small arms in Africa
2. What can stop conflicts in the West African region and Africa?
3. How to stop acts of insurgency and violence?
I believe that my contribution in such conferences will mean a lot in bringing peace to Africa . The illnesses in Liberia can be cured very easily if the following articles will be implemented.
1. Programmes of psychosocial counselling must be supported to the highest 100%
2. Ex-combatants must be trained very adequately for any type of job, so as to be qualified for any job based on their respective areas of profession.
3. The youth and women who were victimized as the result of the war in Liberia must be empowered in order to be self-sufficient to forget about the trauma of the past.
4. The message of reconciliation must be preached and practically demonstrated all over the country.
5. Laws must be put into place that will prosecute all those that are or will be found guilty because of violence and crime against humanity, hence we all know that violence is the result of impunity.
6. Ex-combatants and all war-affected persons must be respected in every area of employment without any discrimination.
We are tired of war and are ready to learn, so with these measures there can be peace and stability in Liberia, as well as Africa. May God, the Almighty, richly bless those who are committed to advocating for peaceful society in Africa and the world at large; for they shall be called the children of God, like you are, Mrs. Pinzon-Gil and team. Special thanks goes to the Women and Children Rehabilitation Resource Centre (WOCHIRRC) for going out there and fetching opportunities for Liberia ’s children.
May God bless you! I thank you."
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| Author |
Malcom |
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| Date |
01 Jan 2007 |
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UNESCO and "Children in Need" |
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