UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT
Conflict is a normal part of any healthy relationship, groups and even nations. After all, two people, or groups can’t be expected to agree on everything, all the time.
The key is not to avoid conflict but to learn how to resolve it in a healthy way.

When conflict is mismanaged, it can cause great harm to our nursing nation, The Gambia. But if we can take our differences aside and handle this process in a respectful, positive way, this envisioned conflict will provide an opportunity to strengthen the bond between all of us. Whatever that may be the cause of this disagreements and disputes, we can use our skills to divert this conflict and find a resolution to it peacefully, and after the successful attempt, we can keep our personal, professional and national relationships strong and growing.

1ST PEACE FORUM

“ THE PEACE CONFERENCE “

THEME

“Rethinking and acting on the situations of the New Gambia: sensitization on a Peaceful Co-existence ahead of December 2019”

DATE: 15-16 November 2019

Banjul, The Gambia

BACKGROUND

We are convinced that young people wish to have an assured future that is guaranteed by peace, freedom and justice. The new Gambia is faced with a lot of issues and challenges that threatens our peaceful co-existence. Some of these include, ethnic issues, the three years coalition agreement, misconception and abuse of democracy, the current issue involving youths in a violent protests and arrests etc. The Gambia’s fragility indicators have steadily worsened over the years and have seen Gambians divided over whether the current head of state should step down after three years as stipulated in the coalition agreement or to continue for five years as mandated by the constitution of the land. 

This has brought divided opinions among activists, politicians and other concerned groups in the country. It is in this regard that The AfriCare Initiative, wishes to organize a National Dialogue through a conference to discourse on issues relating to the maintenance of peace and reconcile divided Gambians ahead of the proposed December Protest which might bring chaos and will destabilize our peaceful nation, which is rated globally as one of the most peaceful countries in the world. The conference which will be titled, “The Peace Conference” intends to address these issues by connecting sustainable development to the principles of democracy and human rights. It seeks to promote and strengthen youth leadership skills for good governance and democracy, enhance the participation of young people in decision making skills and electoral processes, promote human rights and related concepts and encourage women to participate in democratic processes.

The Peace Conference is a platform that aims at building capacities and strengthening engagement of Civil Society Organizations, three years / five years Jotna Groups , Government agencies and Ministries, UN Agencies, African Union, ECOWAS, EU, Public and private sectors, and other concerned institutions in the Gambia on a National Discourse on the state of the matter ahead of the planned “December Protest” and the sustenance of our peaceful co-existence. As CSOs from different levels are communicating on a regular basis, they are inspired and empowered to speak in a coherent manner, to a wider range of stakeholders, expanding their capacity to be involved in policy discussions, implementation and monitoring thereof. 

The Government and development actors in The Gambia must collaborate and accelerate efforts to facilitate the creation or strengthening of platforms for civil society groups and movements in the promotion of peace and maintaining peaceful coexistence in The Gambia. This will avail the opportunity of CSOs in the Gambia who are already promoting peace, coming together in this pursuit. Over the long term, the potential of CSOs as primary agents of positive change in the country if put into good use, many believe would drive the country to rapid economic transformation, Socio-cultural advancement and political development. 

The Gambia’s unity and development depends on how well its civic resources are nurtured, deployed and utilized.

The first ever “Peace Conference” on the promotion of peaceful coexistence in The Gambia will be hosted by The AfriCare Initiative along side Gambian Peace Activist James F. Mendy. Recognizing the important and critical role of CSOs in advocating for the inclusion and representation of all sections of its indigenous people in governance; social, economic and political development, advancing the continental Agenda, for peace and security as well as their contributions to ensuring there is an open space for civil society organizations in Africa, is collectively and swiftly addressed in West Africa. 

The first edition of the Peace Conference on Peaceful Coexistence in The Gambia will take place in Banjul, The Gambia from 15th to 16th of November 2019. As part of the conference process, we intend to develop a position paper which will be put forward to the Government through the National Assembly and  head of state for possible consideration and ratification as policy document which will be called “THE GAMBIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS’ NATIONAL AGENDA ON THE PROMOTION OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN THE GAMBIA”.

GOALS:

The major goal of the conference is to build a consortium of civil society organizations in The Gambia working together to promote peaceful coexistence in The Gambia.

-We seek to promote and strengthen youth leadership skills for good governance and democracy.

-We seek to enhance the participation of young people in decision making skills and electoral processes.

-We seek to promote human rights and related concepts and encourage women to participate in democratic processes.

-We seek to engage the populace on peaceful ways of resolving our conflicts.

-We want the Peace Co-existence in The Gambia.

-We want to sensitize the population on best ways to stage a Peaceful Protest of Self Expression in accordance to the Laws of The Gambia.

-We want to use The Peace Conference to Educate and Sensitize the General Public on conflict resolution.