Monrovia, Liberia: For peace to succeed, people affected by war need to come to terms with what happened to them. As a survivor of conflict herself, UNV volunteer Joyce Kamara has a special empathy for the witnesses she is supporting in Liberia's peace process.
Many UNV volunteers tackle challenging assignments with huge responsibilities, but few experience as much as Ms. Kamara, the UNV Liaison Officer to Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Based in the Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) for Rule of Law, Ms. Kamara performs a vital role as the link between the TRC and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). She is a native of Sierra Leone, a country which itself emerged from civil war in 2002.
The TRC was established in 2003 to investigate human rights violations in Liberia since 1979. Its objective is "to promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by providing a forum to "address impunity" and give people a chance to share their experiences.
Ms. Kamara's role requires her to attend every TRC public hearing, take notes and report back to UNMIL. "I listen to every individual witness and document what they say," she says, "commenting on procedures, seeing how witnesses are treated and contributing to reports about the TRC to UN Headquarters in New York. This helps to keep the mission's leadership updated on the progress of the TRC mandate." Ms Kamara also sits on the TRC's Committee for Gender, to support the participation of both men and women in the TRC process.
At special hearings of the TRC for women and children, Ms. Kamara closely observes the process which provides special protection mechanisms for these vulnerable groups. She helps ensure that the identities of children are withheld and that women have the choice to give their testimonies either in public or private. As a member of the TRC Committee on Gender, Ms. Kamara also participates in several workshops for women and the TRC process.
She first came to Liberia in March 2007 as a UNV Volunteer Gender and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Focal Point in the Civil Affairs Section of UNMIL. Since beginning her current assignment in January 2008, she has travelled to all 15 counties of Liberia and reported on more than 300 individual witnesses and several hearings in Monrovia and elsewhere.
"Many of these counties were very difficult to access," she notes, "and often I have had to help TRC Commissioners get to these counties either by UN vehicles or helicopters, and also assist with accommodation at UN guest houses. Sometimes it was very difficult to find food. But I had to do it. I had to listen to every story."
Not only are the physical conditions sometimes tough, but listening to witnesses of the many atrocities that occurred during Liberia's 11 years of civil war is emotionally draining. "I had gone through many things during the war in Sierra Leone, and it was difficult to listen to these stories," says Ms. Kamara. "It took me back to where I came from... I knew what it's like to be in their shoes."
Ms. Kamara occasionally volunteers her time to personally assist people especially women who were grossly abused during the crisis, giving them the chance to talk about and share their experiences. "Now they are moving on with their lives," she says. "A lot of them are relieved to have had the opportunity to talk about it."
She has also assisted perpetrators to come to terms with their actions during the civil conflict. "In some cases we were able to get perpetrators and victims together. It has helped them psychologically. The perpetrators admit doing wrong, but felt they had to do certain things for survival."
Ms. Kamara says the truth and reconciliation process is contributing directly to peace across Liberia. "For the sake of peace, there has to be truth-telling. People feel relieved because they have finally gotten rid of their frustrations...
"As a volunteer I work with the TRC with the hope that at the end of the day, there will be peace, reconciliation and justice in the country and Liberians, especially women and children, will continue to live fulfilled lives free from violence", she concludes. "And things are moving forward. Contributing to this process makes me feel very fulfilled. As a volunteer, I feel I have so much to give."