Remarks By Mr. Yacoub El Hillo, UN Resident Coordinator, on the Programme Marking the Launch of the National Rehabilitation and Reintegration of National Internally Displaced Persons (NIDPS)

Honorable Ministers of the Government of Liberia,

Honorable Senator of Montserrado County, 

Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission,

Members of the Press,

United Nations Colleagues,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen 

On behalf of the United Nations in Liberia, I am delighted to be here today as we launch a very important report which focuses on some of the most marginalized people in our society.

On this occasion, it is important to recount the recent history of Liberia and highlight the challenges faced by the nation in building a brighter future for the youth.  The National Internally Displaced Persons with special needs or “Future Leaders” as described in your letter of invitation hold a special place in this society. They are among an estimated15,000 child soldiers instrumentalized during the 14-year civil war, as combatants.[1]  The literature on the history of conflicts in Liberia shows marginalization as the main root cause for the war and until we put in place sustained measures, we risk the future of the youthful population as well as the country in general.  These youth, many of whom live on the streets and degrading places like cemeteries, have little or no hope or expectation of getting any support from the society, and feel abandoned and marginalised.

I am especially pleased to note that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that was adopted in 2016 by world leaders seek to address the global challenges in a manner that leaves no one behind.  I would like to highlight that we can only achieve this through individual and collective efforts and by taking little steps as demonstrated by your institutions by undertaking this exercise. 

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: this report could not have come at a better time than now when the United Nations, in partnership with the Government of Liberia, through some of the agencies here present have launched the “Socio-Economic Empowerment of Disadvantaged (SEED) Youth in Liberia” Project.  This report, we hope, provides useful insights that will help the project team target and provide the necessary support to make meaningful impact in the lives of these young men and women. It is estimated that 200-500 of the future leaders will benefit from the USD1.4 Million rehabilitation and skills training project. While this project seeks to address some of these issues, we are aware that this is just a drop in the ocean, hence our call on all stakeholders to join efforts in support of our future leaders. 

In closing, Honorable Ministers, Honorable Senator, Mr. Executive Director, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to reaffirm the continued support of the United Nations to the Government of Liberia in empowering the future leaders of Liberia. We look forward to closer collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission and other stakeholders on future programs. 

Thank you!