ADDIS ABABA – Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) must contribute substantial efforts towards creating social initiatives for various segments of the society to play peace-building roles and harnessing their potential to make peace keeping solutions, civil society actors said.
Conflict affects the lives of innocent citizens, particularly children, woman, the elderly and people with disabilities. Its impact is also manifested in the form of sabotage, destruction of property and loss of the values of humanity.
Mulugeta Debebe (Ph.D) Manager of Oromo Self Help Organization said civil society organizations have significant role to maintain the country’s peace and stability; but they are not properly discharging their responsibility as expected.
As to him, his organization has been focusing on discharging responsibilities like upgrading water supply, school road, and health service; but this year, they aspire to participate in maintaining peace, as it is one of the duties of civil society organizations.
He further stated civil society organizations in cooperation with the general public, must be devised a preventive strategy rather than lamenting and condemning casualties and destruction after something worse happened. Last week there was a discussion on role of CSOs’ in peace building and conflict resolution mechanisms among various actors at UN hall.
On the discussion, three countries (Rwanda, Yemen, and Kenya) share their experience on the role of CSOs. They stated that they could maintain peace through encouraging the youth to create their social initiatives, not just looking for employment, create peace keeping solutions like a community court ‘Gacaca’ in Rwanda.
Mentioning his experience, the participant from Kenya suggested that Ethiopian CSOs should learn from these countries regarding peace keeping solutions. Working with religious leaders, CSOs coordination, linking with key actors of private sectors, and humanitarian organizations are among the key solution, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald, January 4/2020
BY BETHLEHEM ASFAW
