By Albert Futukpor
Bole (S/R), Nov 27, GNA – The Savannah Regional Peace Council has sensitised over 50 women in cross-border trade and transport operators in the Bole District to concientise them on the risks and vulnerability factors of violent extremism and radicalisation.
The two-day sensitisation exercise also focused on conflict early warning and early response to violence, and sought to empower the beneficiaries to effectively support the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation in the country.
It formed part of a comprehensive effort of Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism in the Savannah Region, which shares boundary with the Sahel, where terrorism and violent extremism are very active.
It was undertaken with support from the United Nations Development Programme and other development partners, including the Norwegian Embassy, the Embassy of Denmark, Australian Aid, and the German Development Cooperation.
The lead facilitator, Reverend Father Lazarus Annyereh, Chairman, Savannah Regional Peace Council, who was the lead facilitator during the sensitisation exercise at Bole, took the participants through key topics including terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation, the pull and push factors of radicalisation as well as conflict early warning and early response.
He said the growing youth unemployment crisis, discrimination against minority groups, and the preponderance of protracted conflicts were some of the areas of weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could easily be exploited by the extremist agents and organisations to radicalise and destabilise communities.
Mr Kennedy Atiibo Ayatah, Executive Secretary, Savannah Regional Peace Council, urged the beneficiaries to monitor and control what their children watched on television and what they did on the internet.
He argued that television and internet were double edged tools, which could be used for both good and evil, adding violent extremists could use them to radicalise vulnerable members of their families.
Madam Margaret Konlan, Bole Municipal Director, National Commission for Civic Education, reminded beneficiaries (women) of the influence they wielded in society, urging them to apply their influence positively in support of efforts to prevent violent extremists from entering the country.
She said, “Women are indeed powerful in society and that can either be for good or evil but what is needed in this case is the positive influence of women to protect and sustain the peace and stability of our country.”
GNA