ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVIDES PEACE TO DISABLED PERSONS

Joseph P. Flomo is a 60-year-old retired professional driver and a father of 12 children, residing in Gbarmue, one of the project communities funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) in Bong County. Unfortunately, Joseph is disabled, which resulted in his siblings denying him his family lands. Joseph opened a court case some years ago, and since then, the issue has been up and down. Joseph fought hard to win the case for many years without resolution.

When Joseph heard about the UNPBF-funded project implemented by the Women and Children Development Association of Liberia (WOCDAL), a national women-led organization that is one of the implementing partners of ActionAid, he contacted them and explained his land conflict issues. WOCDAL used the Ministry of Justice Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approach to settle the dispute.

ADR is a Court-Annexed mediation program under the Ministry of Justice, which focuses on providing support and strengthening the prosecutorial arm of the Judiciary at the level of City Solicitors. The ADR mechanism addresses and mediates several issues, including the rapid settlement of appropriate civil disputes and minor complaints, and prevents unnecessary pre-trial detention. ActionAid and partners created one ADR Group in each of the 20 project communities to settle land-related conflicts without creating lasting animosity among families and community members.

Thanks to the UNPBF project, the Garmu ADR Group in Bong County solved Joseph's land conflict between his brothers and him. Joseph now has access to his share of his family land, and he now lives happily with his brother. He thanked ActionAid Liberia for bringing this project to their community and solving their problems. “Now I am happy and free to live with my brother,” Joseph lamented. As a token of appreciation, he gave a portion of his land to the Garmu ADR Group for farming activities.

The women's group planted cassava, beans, and other crops to raise funds for their ADR work. Joseph now serves as an ambassador of peace in his community, encouraging people to use the ADR mechanism to solve their land conflicts.

ActionAid Liberia, along with its implementing partners, continues to build peace in the communities of the project counties. It is renowned for its commitment to women's rights and gender equality, and it has gained recognition from the government and the community for its non-negotiable stance on women's rights and social inclusion in Liberian society.