The Organization of African Youth in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports with support from UNICEF has ended one-day awareness on drugs abuse, prevention, and violence against children in Kakata City, Margibi County.
The awareness under the theme ‘Harnessing the potential of youth in the prevention of drugs abuse and violence against children’ brought together representatives of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Police, the Media, Schools, and the County Administration.
The Country Representative of OA Youth, Fred A. Saydee giving an overview of the program on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, said the intent of the awareness is to allow participants to be able to have fact against drugs abuse and violence against children and what steps can be taken.
He disclosed that drugs abuse and violence against children are critical issues that need serious attention, something he said the Organization sees across the Country as a national emergency that if urgent steps are not taken towards addressing, Liberia might not have a befitting future.
Mr. Saydee narrated that the Organization’s engagement with the Ministry of Youth and Sports at this time is to see how the issues of drugs and violence against children can be tackle across Liberia.
“So the Organization of African Youth has signed a 1-year partnership agreement with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the intention of that partnership is to have young people through the structure of Organization of African Youth across the 15 Counties to make sure that they work towards addressing the issues that have to do with drugs and violence against children” he maintained.
He revealed that as a pilot, the Organization will be working in Margibi, Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties focusing on drugs and violence against children to provide interactive program and provide Community-based awareness in order for young people who are the future generation of Liberia can have the opportunity to acquire the required information to know the danger associated with drugs and violence against children.
Meanwhile, the OA Youth Country Representative says the Organization has been working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports over the past years on youth development programs.
Mr. Saydee intoned that they’ve implemented programs in some Counties including Margibi called ‘enhancing youth participation in elections’ where peace clubs and committee were established across the 15 Counties along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
In a related development, the Deputy County Commander of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency in Margibi County wants stringent measure instituted by the government of Liberia against the use and abuse of drugs.
Commander Joseph K. Gokor said there is a need for the National Legislature to revisit the drugs law on grounds that it is weak. Also speaking, the County Information Officer of Margibi, Joe Benson Josiah has expressed the need for a collaborative effort on the part of everyone in the fight against drugs abuse and violence against children.
