The Association of Disabled Females International (ADFI) conducted a one-day Training of Trainers' workshop for county coordinators and relevant staff at the association's national headquarters at the Slipway Community here in Monrovia.

The workshop, which was sponsored by Global Fund for Human Rights (GFHR) and American Jewish World Service (AJWS) was intended to teach county coordinators of ADFI techniques and systematic modes of statement-taking for the TRC.

Disabled females attended the workshop from all parts of the country to gain knowledge on various topics, so that they may return to their respective counties and empower the disabled statement-takers there.

Speaking under the theme "Tactics for the Identification of War- made Disabled Persons" was a host of speakers from various institutions who addressed the workshop.

These included TRC Commissioner, Mrs. Oumu K. Syllah, Alice Vahanian, Country Director, Handicap International-France, Yamah Darsee, Monrovia Rehabilitation Centre located at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) hospital among others.

Ricardia B. Dennis, Executive Director, ADFI-Liberia instructed the county coordinators that the workshop was about getting information that will help them and ultimately the nation at large and she encouraged them to pay close attention and ask as many questions as they feel necessary.

She told the participants the enormity of task should not be underestimated; urging them to be zealous, courageous yet persuasive and consoling in dealing with would-be statement-givers.

She stressed that they were the most suitable persons to engage other disabled persons in the undertaking; as their colleagues would in most cases feel comfortable giving them their stories.

Commissioner Syllah spoke on the topic "The Role of the TRC as it Relates to Vulnerable Persons/ Emphasis on War-ade Disabled/ War-related Adventitious Disabled Persons."

Commissioner Syllah said the purpose of the TRC would be to promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation.

Yamah Darsee a social worker at the Monrovia Rehabilitation Center (MRC) at the JFK spoke on the activities of the center. She briefed the participants on the role that Handicap International-France is playing in Liberia; informing them that the NGO is now supporting the MRC which was dormant for a protracted period.

Also speaking at the workshop from the human rights perspective were representatives from the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) which handles promotion, awareness and training for the TRC. Mr. Saydee Momo spoke on "Patterns & Tactics of Data Collection of Statement- taking" and Thomas A. Bureh spoke on "The Role of the Transitional Justice Working Group."

Mr. Bureh said there are four elements of securing peace and reconciliation that the TRC tries to employ; establishment of the facts, whether to press the case to court, reparation or compensation for pains, sufferings and losses and how to prevent conflict recurrence.

The county coordinators and relevant staff now have the burden of reaching out to accomplish this national undertaking.