Conciliation Resources photo galleries

Symbols of peace: peace monitors in Sierra Leone, 2003

Sierra Leone's decade-long conflict wreaked physical and psychosocial devastation on the entire nation. The declaration of peace in 2002 marked a time for broken communities to heal and old and new conflicts to be resolved without violence.

One community response was developed by local people involved in the Bo Peace and Reconciliation Movement (BPRM) and Sulima Fishing Community Development Project (SFCDP) in southern Sierra Leone. SFCDP used religious leaders and BPRM used respected members of civil society groups as peace monitors.

These peace monitors negotiate, mediate, prevent and resolve conflicts by going through a detailed system of analysis and follow up. They also facilitate a process where communities participate and find creative solutions to their conflicts rather than having others do it for them. This method in itself strengthens inclusion in community decision making. Read more about this work in a 2008 publication.

Instructions: click on an image to scroll through the photos at a larger size.

Signing of a peace agreement facilitated by BPRM peace monitors.

Peace monitors from BPRM and SFCDP after a session at a learning seminar where they became aware of their similar methods of working and shared their experiences.

Peace monitors from BPRM and SFCDP at the learning and dissemination seminar in November 2003.

Women washing clothes at the riverside village where SFCDP peace monitors operate. This is the peace and tranquility that the peace monitors are working hard to sustain.

Peace monitors cover long distances on foot so bikes were requested. Even these suffer from wear and tear.

Peace monitors discuss their work at a learning and dissemination seminar in November 2003.

Mr Joe Pyne, deputy mayor of Bo Town Council and advisor to Conciliation Resources, who has made critical inputs into the peace monitor system.

Peace monitors from Sulima where they work in communities along the Liberian border.

A peace monitor after some reflections on their role as part of the wider justice system with police and local courts.

A house damaged by the war. Apart from the ruins, damage of property led to many land disputes after the war came to an end.

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