The Youth Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, Roisin Timmons, has cautioned Liberians, especially the young people, to sustain the peace of Liberia. Timmons said this year Liberia will celebrate 20 years of peace since the signing of the Accra Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the 14 years civil war and began a new era of peace in Liberia.
Timmons spoke on Thursday, August 10, 2023 during the African Youth Fellowship-Liberia’s Youth Impact Award Day as part of the International Youth Day celebration, organized by African Youth Fellowship-Liberia at Sinkor Palace Hotel.
The UN Envoy lauded Liberians, including the youth, for working hard to maintain the peace of Liberia, as Liberians celebrate 20 years of peace in this month and year.
“20 years ago, Liberians signed the Accra peace agreement that brought to an end the 14-year civil war and began a new era of peace in the country. Since then, you are aware more than me that Liberians have been working hard to sustain the peace. You have conducted many peaceful elections and, hopefully, this year you will do the same,” Timmons stated.
Timmons encouraged the young people that they have their individual responsibility to sustain the peace of Liberia, including voting in elections, posting on social media and sharing peace messages among their peers. “Young people have individual responsibility to contribute and sustain peace, include voting in elections, but go beyond that, and posting on social media,” she observed.
She also mentioned that her office hosted peace symposium at the University of Liberia which coordinated many youth signing a pledge for responsible online behavior and social cohesion during the election. She further applauded the African Youth Fellowship-Liberia for organizing the youth peace dialogue in Bong County and the International Youth Day celebration.
The celebration, which awarded 10 outstanding youth leaders from diverse professional fields contributing to youth development, peace and security in Liberia, was held under the national theme, “Peaceful Coexistence, a Pathway to Sustainable Peace and Development”. The global theme is, “Green Skill for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.
For his part, the Program Coordinator of the African Youth Fellowship-Liberia, Jutomue Kollie, indicated that International Youth Day is celebrated every year. He said, in 1999, United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 54/120 endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers of Youth (Lisbon, 8—12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day with the aim to draw worldwide focus towards various issues surrounding the youths of the world.
“International Youth Day offers a platform to honor the qualities of youths and the potential that they hold towards development of a nation and the world as a whole. The day also acknowledges the challenges faced by them and to eliminate the issues. A lot of contribution is made by young people towards community development, in protection of environment and volunteering on various social projects.
“Today, AYF Liberia will be awarding 10 youth leaders who have made tremendous impact on the lives of youth in Liberia,” Kollie quoted.
Youth leaders who received award are Estelle Liberty-Kemoh, Director General, Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS); Ambassador Amos Sawboh, Executive Director, Orphans Concern; Josephine Kolubah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jojo Hope House; E. Timotheus Kamaboakai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), YMCA Liberia; Ambassador Varney Sheriff, Chairman, Young Ambassador for Peace; Roisin Timmons, Youth Coordinator, UN Resident Coordinator Office; and Zaia Raymond Flumo.
Making remarks, the Senior Communication Officer of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Daniel Ankrah, expressed appreciation to the African Youth Fellowship-Liberia for awarding him for his impact on youth development. He also used the occasion to encourage Liberians to maintain the peace.
“As young people, we need to focus, and I want to encourage the young people here today that these elections are about us and we can make it by the way we debate the issues, the way we talk and stay clear of violence,” Ankrah noted.
