Celebrate December 10th, International Human Rights Day
We celebrate International Human Rights Day. Edmund Rice International calls on all Edmund Rice schools, communities, networks, and associates to celebrate this day and to reflect on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for our mission as followers of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers.
Visit of Mr. Emmanuel Bombande to ERI Office in Geneva
Brother Denis Claivaz fpm with Emmanuel Bombande outside the ERI office in Geneva
Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, Director of the West African Network for Peacebuilding visited Edmund Rice International at its offices in Geneva. Emmanuel is a past-pupil of Brother Denis Claivaz fpm and a graduate of Notre Dame College, Navrongo, Upper East, Ghana, a College founded and sponsored by the Presentation Brothers. The purpose of his visit to Geneva was to attend a conference on peacebuilding organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). While in Geneva he was interviewed by Ms. Neha Sud, journalist at Franciscans International. Her story follows below.
Building Peace in West Africa
Emmanuel Bombande explains how in times of despair, there is still hope to be found
“I could have been a rebel leader”, says Emmanuel Bombande, the Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) in Ghana. He continues: “Were it not for my education and formation, I could easily have been contributing to the conflicts in Africa.”
But he is not. Instead, he contributes to the work of an organisation that, according to its mission statement, aims to “build sustainable peace; thereby enabling development in West Africa.” Since its creation in 1998, WANEP has gained international acclaim for its conflict prevention, crisis management, and peace-building efforts in Africa. Bombande himself has worked at the front-lines of some of the continent’s most harrowing conflicts – Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and currently, Darfur.
Emmanuel Bombande in Geneva
A week ago, he made the long journey from Darfur to the UN in Geneva, to present the ground realities of Africa to global policy makers. Amidst all the discussions, deliberations and resolutions at the Palais des Nations; Bomdande also found the time to devote two days to an old friend– Br. Denis Claivaz.
Br. Denis, who joined Edmund Rice International in Geneva this October, had spent the past twenty years as the Rector of the Notre Dame Seminary in Eastern Ghana. It was there that, fifteen years ago, he taught young Emmanuel Bombande. When Br. Denis heard that Bombande was in Geneva, he invited him to the office to give a presentation on conflict management. “I wanted to use his expertise to give ERI, some direction with our 5 year plan”, says Br. Denis. “And of course”, he adds jokingly, “us being a partner with Franciscans International, Emmanuel wasn’t going to leave this office without some kind of input into their work!”
Bombande’s input on peace-building began with an unexpected statement. Addressing ERI and Franciscans International staff in their conference room, Bombande declared, “Conflict can be positive.” He elaborated: “Conflict is a state of human interaction where there is disharmony or perceived divergence of interests. You can view this as a constructive opportunity to build upon, instead of adopting a negative approach.”
Having made this unorthodox opening, Bombande then delved deeper into why conflict occurs. He categorised the causes of conflict into four broad criteria – relationship problems, value differences, structural problems, whereby the social system renders people powerless, and finally, incorrect data, where misinformation causes parties to enter into conflict.
Yet, despite the many sparks that can ignite into conflict; Bombande remained positive. “All conflicts, no matter what the cause, can offer an opportunity to resolve unbalanced power relations”, he explained. “Conflict can help us solve problems, establish identity and independence redistribute power in an inequitable system, and create new norms and institutional laws.”
Bombande’s optimism is indeed very refreshing; especially at a time where conflict continues to tear apart regions of Africa and policy makers debate whether certain states are destined to fall into war.
Conflict Prevention Strategies
Bombande, from his experience, believes that to build long-lasting peace in Africa, the international community must shift its focus. “When I was in Sierra Leone, everywhere I went, I saw hundreds of UN vehicles”, he narrated to his audience. “70,000 UN peacekeepers all crowded in this small country, they were spending 3 million dollars a day for five years, but it was already too late. Yes, the country has gone back to peace, but the issues of poverty are still so pronounced that it can move back to violence at any time. Yes, countries will always give money for peace-keeping, but by the time peace-keepers come in, it is already too late.”
Instead of focusing on post-conflict reconstruction, Bombande stressed that nations should direct their efforts and funds to conflict prevention. He explained that this can be done by investing in infrastructure to educate people, empower the powerless, and foster civil society. Bombande’s NGO, WANEP, is deeply entrenched in prevention through its West Africa Early Warning and Early Response Network (WARN). WARN closely monitors social and political developments in various African states, ensuring that nations do not stray from the path of good governance.
Bombande also offered Franciscans International; an NGO that has long worked with Africa’s most vulnerable populations, a valuable opportunity for collaboration. “WANEP’s work can have a cost cutting effect on your work”, he predicted. “We can offer you analysis at the shoeshine level. Our grassroots data can enhance your work, in the same way that your advocacy helps what we are doing.”
Michael Mutzner, Franciscans International’s Advocacy Intern could not be more pleased with this pronouncement. “I was encouraged that Emmanuel, someone who works in the field, was telling us that our work had an impact on what they were doing”, he said.
But along with encouragement, Bombande also imparted a word of advice: “To enhance the capacity of the world’s vulnerable; Franciscans International must first help free them from conflict.”
While there are many approaches to breaking the shackles of conflict, Bombande believes that the best solution is to transform, rather than resolve conflict. On a macro level, conflict can be transformed through mediation, facilitation, conciliation and negotiation. “But”, Bombande stressed, “the most important thing to do is to invest in people, so that they will be prevented from engaging in future conflict.”
Investing in People
Emmanuel Bombande himself is exemplary of what he means by “investing in people”. He is grateful to the Presentation Brothers for giving him his formation, without which, he says, he could have ended up fuelling the flames conflict instead of extinguishing them.
Br. Denis, however, insists it is a story of giving that works both ways. After completing university, Bombande returned to the Notre Dame Seminary to serve as a teacher for two years. “When Emmanuel was younger”, recalls Br. Denis, “we appointed him the prefect. This is what formation is about – giving a young person who has the potential, the opportunity to express himself in a leadership role. Over the past fifteen years, Emmanuel has proven the potential I knew he had. He has given so much to society by going to different conflict zones, discovering the root causes for the conflict, and bringing peace to people.”
Asked if the former teacher is proud of his pupil, Br. Denis grins from ear to ear and says “Am I proud? Didn’t you see me smiling the entire two days that he was here?!”