UN Peacebuilders Discuss Sierra Leone Assistance

UN Peacebuilding Commission meets to discuss assistance to Sierra Leone

19 May 2008 - Representatives of the United Nations, individual Member States, regional organizations, the private sector and civil society have gathered today in New York to discuss how to increase the level of international involvement in Sierra Leone's efforts to make the transition from years of civil conflict towards eventual stability and prosperity.

The UN Peacebuilding Commission's high-level stakeholders consultation on Sierra Leone, being held at UN Headquarters, also considered new initiatives and partnerships to generate more support for existing peacebuilding activities, the Commission said in a press statement.

Last December the Commission and the Government of Sierra Leone adopted an agreed framework spelling out what specific actions both parties will take in the short-to-medium term to deal with the remaining challenges to consolidating peace in the West African country, which has been beset by war for nearly all of the 1990s.

The framework highlights five priority areas: justice and security sector reform; youth employment and empowerment; good governance; energy sector development; and capacity building.

Addressing today's consultation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated that effective peacebuilding is based on three principles - national ownership, mutual accountability and sustained engagement.

Mr. Ban said he hoped today's meeting would result in clear commitments for support to the implementation of the framework.

"Our collective and individual support will be critical to sustaining Sierra Leone's impressive progress towards peace, development and prosperity," he said.

ENDS

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