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Liberian Council of Churches Plays Key Role in Elections
Displaced children in Monrovia
Photo: Chris Herlinger/CWS
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"The Liberian Council of Churches did so much good work to recruit and train election monitors," observed Susan Sanders, a United Church of Christ member, U.S. citizen, and Church World Service board member who served as an observer in the October 11 presidential election in Liberia.
"Many young people participated in the election as observers, poll workers, and voters. There was a real desire and commitment to get this election right – and I think Liberia did itself proud. There is no doubt in my mind that the election will be determined to be free, fair, transparent, and credible. One ecumenical observer from Germany, who has observed 10 elections on the continent of Africa, said the Liberian election was by far the best he had ever seen," reported Sanders.
The Liberian Council of Churches welcomed a team of international ecumenical observers from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (USA); the United Church of Christ (USA); Evangelical Development Service – EED (Germany); Finn Church Aid (Finland); the Church of Sweden; the World Council of Churches; Mercy Ships; Pentecostal Missionary Union; and the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa. Heads of churches and Christian organizations in Liberia also participated as observers/monitors.
The Education and Advocacy Program of Church World Service partners with the Liberian Council of Churches to support voter education, build civil society, and raise awareness of human rights. In this election, the Liberian Council of Churches helped mobilize voter registration and voting among its member churches. Out of three million Liberians, an estimated 1.3 million registered to vote. Turnout for the October 11 election was estimated at over 70 percent.
"I don't know about the statistics, but from my view many more women came than men," said Kollie Mulrah, presiding officer at a polling station in an impoverished section of Monrovia. "They are very zealous about this election," she stated, explaining that women are very invested in the outcome of the election.
In a public statement issued after the election, the Liberian Council of Churches said, "The Council is pleased to note the orderliness and peacefulness of the voting process, especially the resilience, tolerance and patience exhibited by voters, particularly the youth, pregnant women, mothers with babies, and the elderly. The turnout and peaceful demonstration of Liberians on Elections Day gives a clear and undoubting indication of Liberians' commitment to usher in democratization and recovery."
The Liberian Council of Churches will also monitor the runoff election on November 8. "The election will contribute very significantly to peace efforts in Mano River Union countries," stated Benjamin Lartey, General Secretary of the Liberian Council of Churches. "What affects one country affects the others. Peace in Liberia will naturally have a stabilizing effect in Guinea and Sierra Leone," noted Lartey.
Church World Service was among the first international non-governmental organizations to respond in 1990 to war-related emergency needs in Liberia, give leadership and resources to help end the violence, meet humanitarian needs, and support stabilization and continues to work with partners in Liberia.
Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;
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