Liberia: UNDP Donates 20 Motorbikes to Monitor Violence Situations
The motorbikes will be used by early warning monitors and community peace committee members to facilitate early warning activities in the various communities.
Ahead of the 2023 presidential and general elections, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has donated 20 brand new motorbikes to the Liberia Peacebuilding Office to monitor the reports of violent situations within the fifteen counties.
UNDP Country Representative, Stephen Rodriques, turned over the bikes during a recent event held in Monrovia. He said that the bikes will be used by early warning monitors and community peace committee members to facilitate early warning activities in the various counties.
According to him, UNDP is supporting the Early Warning and Response and Mechanism and the Prevention of Violence against Women in Elections and Politics in the country.
“We are also now exploring possibilities to further strengthen the response part of the mechanism. This support also seeks to promote genuine collaboration for peace,” he said. Rodriques added that the objective of the UNDP’s support to the country is to ensure peacebuilding and conflict prevention within the country.
He also called on Liberians to do all they can to preserve the peace and expressed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting Liberia to achieve peaceful and transparent elections. He said that the achievement of peace by Liberians is something laudable and there is a need that the citizens to maintain or sustain the peace.
“This is an achievement that should not be taken for granted by the citizens,” he said.
According to him, leaders of political parties have been very much instrumental in the achievement of peace in the country.
“I am certain that these political parties will once again reaffirm and commit to ensuring that the 2023 presidential and general elections are peaceful,” he stated. He warned Liberians to cease the use of hate speech and messages, particularly during the electoral period.
“When the lives of the people are at stake and the future of the country is also at stake, it is time to exercise good judgements and reject actions which we know carry the risks of leading to violence,” he emphasized.
Receiving the bikes on behalf of the government, Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf thanked UNDP for the donation and promised to use them for their intended purposes. Minister Sirleaf recounted UNDP numerous contributions to the country, especially when it comes to supporting the peace.