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ADNews- Bo, Sierra Leone: Several Staff and Church Leaders of the Faith and Justice Network (FJN) within the Mano River Basin have gathered at the Galliness Paradise Hotel in Bo City, Sierra Leone to participate in a three-day intensive training in building their capacity in upholding the rule of law.
The church leaders and staff about 20 in number are from Liberia, Guinea, and host Sierra Leone.
Addressing the participants , the Regional Executive Director of FJN, Rev Dr. Tolbert Thomas Jallah Jr. said that the capacity building training will empower staff with the knowledge and tools to develop indicators and prepare writing narrative reports based on cooperation agreement to advocate for human rights and uphold the rule of law in their respective countries.
FJN Regional Executive Director, Rev. Tolbert Thomas Jallah Jr.
“ Our workshop will strengthen our capacity as church leaders to address injustice through a faith-based movement, rooted in compassion and integrity; and foster a collaborative network of like-minded individuals committed to championing human dignity, equality, and justice for all, especially the most vulnerable through teamwork”. Rev. Dr. Jallah emphasized.
Rev. Jallah pointed out that the workshop reflects on their collective commitment to addressing issues through informed advocacy, ranging from political instability, poverty, to human rights violations.
“This gathering brings together dedicated advocates, church leaders and stakeholders from across the Mano River Basin countries at a pivotal moment in our region’s journey towards justice and equality.” Rev Jallah noted
Several presenters mounted the podium at the Galliness Paradise Hotel and presented on topics ranging from “Goal, Vision and Mandate of the Faith and Justice Network. Also Promoting Citizens Participations and Public Policies Formulation and Implementations through Churches in Mano River Basin Countries to Overcome, Poverty and Inequalities, Sustaining Human Rights and Rule of Law Efforts in the Mano River Basin and The Significance of Project Monitoring and Evaluation amongst others.
Anglican Diocese of Bo City, Bishop Scott Manga
Delivering his keynote address, Right Rev. Solomon Leonard Scott Manga, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bo, said, “I am highly honored and excited to be called upon to give a keynote address on the theme. The Church’s perspective for promoting and sustaining Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the Mano River Basin is indeed issues bordering on Human Rights and the Rule of Law which should not just be pre-occupation of state institutions but the churches as well. Secular schools of thought may attribute the source of these concepts to some educators, but they emerged from God’s word and His son Jesus Christ.
“The Universal Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity of all human beings and promoting and protecting human rights is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.”
According to him, the Universal and indivisible fundamental values that span every culture and continent are also human rights tools that help to provide sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges -increasing inequalities within and between nations, discrimination on the basis of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, belonging Indigenous people, minorities or other grounds, insecurity, divisiveness and conflict, fuelled by the hate speech and disinformation, setting aside the complexities of the definitions and the rule of law is fundamental in this regard.
He maintained that in multiple and varied jurisdictions, the legal community is instrumental in upholding and promoting the rule of law in order for human rights to be properly protected.
He further noted that the United Nations- as recently re-affirm in the then Secretary General’s New Vision of Rule of Law- defines the rule of law as “ a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions, and entities, public and private including the state itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards.
He added, the rule of law can be promoted and sustained if the following principles are maintained saying the rule of law is a durable system of laws, institution, norms and community commitment that delivers universal principles, Accountability, Just Law, Open Government, Accessible and Impartial Justice.
Rev. Solomon urged Faith-based institutions to ensure these principles of good governance emphatically preached in their gospel presentations.
“Human Rights and the rule of law should be aligned with (Amos 5:24). But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” in the Mano River Basin. Bishop Manga concluded.
“Right Rev. Solomon Leonard Scott Manga, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bo of Sierra Leone, and Bishop Dr. James B. Selle, Bishop of Episcopal Church of Liberia are in attendance at the occasion”.
The Faith and Justice Network (FJN) is a leading faith-based advocacy organization dedicated to promoting justice, peace, and sustainable development across Liberia and the Mano River Basin.
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