By Alieu Amara Suwu
Every citizen has the right and duty to promote peace and national cohesion in a state. This right and duty is known as civil participation. Civil participation has seen as of utmost importance throughout the world for its role in fostering democratic processes and peace building at all levels. The latest trends observed within the world’s leading democracies suggest that civil associations volunteer to take responsibilities for the development and implementation of state policies. In addition, they are actively involved in all those initiatives which influence social, political, economic and cultural policies. A level of democratization of nation states is largely shaped by the degree of civil participation of individuals as well as a society. Society consists of people sharing values and pursuing a shared goal while maintaining functional integrity. A unity without shared values and goals, or without functional integrity, is simply a population rather than a society. Societal values are of moral, legal, social, cultural and national significance. These are those ideals and goals that the society aspires to achieve.
These goals and ideals are enshrined in the Sierra Leonean 1991 Constitution, section thirteen, which clearly outlines citizens’ responsibilities to the state in promoting peace and nation cohesion. These responsibilities are not limited to abiding by the Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem and authorities and offices established or constituted under this Constitution or any other law; cultivating a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethnic tribal or other loyalties; protecting and preserving public property and prevent the misappropriation and squandering of funds belonging to the Government, local authorities or public corporations; help to enhancing the power, prestige and good name of the State and to defend the State and render national service as may be required; respect the dignity and religion of other individuals, and the rights and interests of others; make positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress, and well-being of the community, wherever he resides; work conscientiously in a lawful and chosen occupation and abstain from any activity detrimental to the general welfare of others; ensure the proper control and upbringing of his children and wards; participate in and defend all democratic processes and practices; and render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.
As a citizen, promoting peace and order is a responsibility that everyone should take seriously. It is essential to follow the law and respect the rules set by the authorities. Laws are in place to maintain peace and order, and by obeying them, we contribute to a safe and stable community. Respecting others’ rights and opinions are also essential. Being polite and not engaging in violent behavior are ways to promote peace in the community. Reporting crimes and suspicious activities: it is additionally essential to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the authorities. This helps prevent crime and violence in society. Engaging in community activities for events and organizations can help promote peaceful relations and encourage residents to support each other. Mediating disputes: citizens can assist in resolving conflicts peacefully and prevent the situation from escalating to violence. Citizens’ role in promoting peace and cohesion requires active participation, collaboration, and cooperation with law enforcement officials, neighbors and community-based organizations.
Moreover, the foundation of welfare is aspiration of citizens to put public interest before personal or narrow group (clan, institute, and agency). Citizens should encourage such individuals to ascend to power by means of elections or otherwise. Besides, not only should an individual share societal rules, but to take all possible measures to contribute to the development of the society so that he remains morally faithful to those citizens who create and serve the public good. This is the road that an individual should take in order to become a true citizen and a full member of the society who is able to freely enjoy material or spiritual wealth created by his/her fellow citizens. The concept of citizenship embraces three following aspects: civil, political and social. Based on these aspects, the active citizen is the one who engaged in civil, political and social activities.
One of the core rights of the citizen is the right to participate in public management- implementation of political activities. Participation in political life may take various forms including: voting – participation in elections, nominating a candidate for an elected office (those who argue that voting is a must for civil society also support the idea that voting is not just a right but a civil duty.
If laws or actions of authorities contradict citizens’ beliefs as to what is appropriate, the latter have to face a difficult choice: should they obey laws and governmental decisions? Some argue that since there are no perfect authorities, obedience also has its limits: if a law or a decision does not feel right, then citizens are not obliged to abide by such laws or decisions. Some choose to resort to a rebellion and revolution; others decide on less violent forms of protest. There are various forms of non-violent protest ranging from publishing open letters addressing officials to participating in boycotts. When such forms of protest appear futile, what other choices do citizens have to confront authorities? Civil resistance is one of the forms of non-violent protest. It includes but is not limited to refusal to pay taxes, burning passports, sit-ins etc. Decisions to resort to these kinds of action often induce serious consequences and citizens who employ such forms of protest must be ready for such consequences. For instance, the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau chose to go to prison instead of paying taxes in support to American-Mexican war.
Active citizenship can be realized not only by undertaking political activities, but also by means of active participation in the country’s public life, in other words by undertaking civil activities. Individuals may take certain responsibilities for benefit of their communities. They can, for instance, become peer educators or teachers, contribute to decision making by, for instance, developing and implementing anti-discrimination and anti-extortion policies and practices; meet and talk to community members, religious leaders, police, local authorities and volunteer groups in order to discuss social and ethical dilemmas including prejudices and discrimination; collect information and recommendations through information services, hotlines and other means; rethink changes taking place within the society and plan adaptation strategies.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times Week end Newspaper on Friday 13th October, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
