28 March 2008
Disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) process has come and gone, but it did not end without contentions. Observers believed the process was marred by flaws and did not take into account basic standards. Whether this is true or not is a guess.
But sooner or later, as this paper has gathered, Amnesty International (AI) will on the 29th of March release a documentary on the DDRR process, focusing on treatment against women and girls in the process, perhaps other things.. Our reporters files the story
"Liberia Coalition of NGOs in partnership with Amnesty International will be launching its reports on the flawed process that discriminates against women and girls in the DDRR process.
This report was carried out in September of 2007 through a research that was done by AI in Liberia, focusing on the DDRR process," this is how Rev. Christopher Toe, Secretary General of the Liberia Coalition of NGOs began his statement when he spoke to the press on the pending program.
"And so, on the 29 of March, this report will be launched at the ATS and it is going to be in the form of concert that will bring together musical stars from Sierra Leone as well as Liberia. There will also be drama and cultural troops performances," he said.
According to Rev. Toe, the documentary from the research will be shown on big video screen at the ATS for public viewing, relative to how women felt about the entire DDRR process.
The Liberia Coalition official says the program is free, that is there admission fees and that Ambassador Julie Endee along with other guest stars will add flavor to the occasion with on stage performances.
"The Liberian guest stars will be doing a track on the whole DDRR process; the track is already in process. We have musical stars like Real Nigga, West Coast King, Benevolence and others will also form part of the show," Rev. Toe told journalists, adding, "There will be five different musical groups that will be performing."
it seems that due to the importance attached to it, he has urged all Liberians to turn out at the ATS to watch the documentary, see Liberian musical artists performing and see how the DDRR process went. Officials of the DDRR Commission have been informed of the planned ceremonies because according to Rev. Toe.
Besides the DDRR Commission, he said they have written UNMIL and agencies of government concerned about the process. "We are calling on all Liberians and the press to join us in this program which has national and international significance.
Already, a team of Amnesty International officials is already in the country, as part of the launch of the research documentary and according to him, human rights personnel working with along with the AI, the program takes place on April 9 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
In September 2007, Amnesty International (AI) conducted a research on Liberia Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DDRR) process, its impact on former female fighters.
The research involved speaking to all stakeholders on the issue, from the UN to the DDRR commission, NGOs and women and girls themselves. Result of the research highlights the flaws in the design and the implementation of the Liberia DDRR, especially the exclusion of gender approach.
In January 2008, AI came back to Liberia to film a documentary on the same issue. The documentary shows how women and trying to reintegrate themselves into the society despite the failed DDRR process.
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