Monrovia — The Center for Peace Education and Democracy (COPE) has concluded a three-day awareness and education workshop for rural dwellers on the danger and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Liberia.

The workshop, which ended on Sunday, was held in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, from November 30 to December 2. It brought together 40 participants from Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Maryland and other Counties represented by commissioners, paramount and clan chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, women and children as well as ex-combatants.

The workshop, which was held under the theme, "Building the Connections in Rural Liberia to Eradicate Small Arms and Gun Violence" is part of COPE's awareness campaign against the proliferation and effects of small arms and light weapons in the country. The United States-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED), sponsored the workshop.

Speaking at the opening program, COPE Executive Director, Robert Miller, underscored the importance and urgency of the role of rural dwellers in the war against proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.

The COPE Executive maintained that in order to break the cycle of underdevelopment, violence and conflict, which according to him, are usually fueled by proliferation of small arms, rural dwellers must ensure that concrete and protected policies are pursued in addressing the growing waves of proliferation and the danger small arms pose to the nation and its people.

He further noted that rural dwellers should work towards a number of relevant control measures including promoting ultimate global codes of conduct to implement comprehensive and effective regulations that would prevent the supply of arms and ammunitions and technologies, which may be used to violate international human rights standards.

The COPE boss then recommended that the UN Security Council should ensure compliance of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast with regulation on the moratorium on small arms and international laws, as well as ensure that member states of the UN adhere to international conventions and protocols on small arms and light weapons.

He then called on rural dwellers and rural organizations to build a formidable force in their respective counties by pressurizing national government to take concrete steps in the eradication of small arms and light weapons.

Making remarks at the workshop, UNMIL Sector 4 Public Relations Officer, Captain Gbeyehu Wale of the Ethiopian Contingent, said UNMIL is committed to peace in Liberia.

The UNMIL Executive noted that the country has moved away from conflict and violence and was now enjoying peace, but sharply indicated that UNMIL will act firmly and decisively against any attempt to disrupt the hard earned peace now in the country.