United Nations and Peacemakers Network Convened Traditional Leaders and Actors to Create a New Plan of Action to Prevent Atrocity Crimes
3 June 2022 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UN Office in Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect – cruciani@un.org
Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers – sarah.tyler@kua.fi
ABUJA – The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention of the Responsibility to Protect in partnership with the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers concluded a two-day technical global consultation in Abuja with traditional leaders and actors from across five regions that resulted in a draft Plan of Action for Traditional Leaders and Actors to Prevent Atrocity Crimes.
This consultation was co-hosted by the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar Muhammadu III, Gbong Gwom of Jos His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba and Obi of Onitsha His Royal Highness Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe.
The proactive involvement and local ownership of traditional leaders as key stakeholders are critical in preventing atrocity crimes. The draft Plan of Action entails the commitments of traditional leaders and actors to prevent atrocity crimes, including but not limited to strengthening and supporting traditional dispute mechanisms, sharing alternative and counter-narratives for hate speech and incitement to violence, strengthening community dialogue and activities to support social cohesion, and support educational opportunities and skill building development.
“Traditional Leaders play a critical role in preventing atrocity crimes thanks to their deep contextual knowledge and skills in traditional dispute resolution. Hence, we must engage these actors in atrocity prevention efforts at the global, regional, national, and local level” emphasized the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu.
“The Network is committed to supporting traditional actors, including women and youth in their critical role through utilizing effective mechanisms, such as peace mediation in situations at risk and atrocity crimes” stated the Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Actors, Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi.
As the next step, this draft Plan of Action will be presented and discussed in five regional consultations with traditional leaders and actors to put the document in context and explore regional diversities, expertise, and solutions. Information from the global forum and the regional consultations will be then collated into the finalized Plan of Action.
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