Beginning on March 5, 2004, RI Advocate Sarah Martin, and Director of Conflict Prevention and Resolution Cliff Bernath will conduct a mission to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte D'Ivoire to examine the roles, strengths and weaknesses of the peacekeeping operations, individually and in a regional context; to assess the refugee and IDP situation in each country; and to explore Gender-based Violence (GBV) and HIV/AIDS problems and programs.

All three countries are at critical junctures. The peace in Sierra Leone is largely holding and progress is continuing to develop government, civil institutions and rule of law mechanisms. But progress has been slow and there has been little extension of government services outside the capital. The UN has begun reducing the UNAMSIL mission. It has already been reduced from 17,500 to 11,500. By October 2004, it is expected that forces will be reduced to 5,000. The UN must not draw down prematurely and allow a return of violence that could impede current progress towards stability.

After 14 years of civil war in Liberia that have resulted in widespread human rights violations, displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and destruction of vast areas of the country, there is now movement towards a fragile peace. A UN peacekeeping force, UNMIL, is nearing its authorized strength of 15,000. However, there continue to be many obstacles to a sustainable peace in Liberia. UNMIL troops have only deployed to a small portion of the country, leaving much of the country insecure. The disarmament and demobilization of armed forces (DDRR) started, then stalled; no date has been set for restarting the program. There are still an estimated 38,000 armed combatants and their family members in Liberia. These combatants, who Liberians say are "feeding themselves with their guns," are still committing atrocities. Currently, there are no incentives for them to do otherwise. With a nationwide unemployment rate of 85% there are no opportunities for them to find work.

Human rights abuses continue, and the international community is unable to meet the humanitarian needs for the majority of Liberians. Gender-based Violence (GBV) in all of its forms is endemic in Liberia. It is estimated that as many as 40% of women have been raped. Rape and other human rights abuses are still widespread throughout the country. Domestic violence is prevalent. Refugees International is concerned that the influx of peacekeepers and UN and NGO staff could lead to increased exploitation of women and girls.

In Côte D'Ivoire, violence continues as north and south factions pursue political and ethnic solutions through war. French and South African peacekeepers have been deployed since early 2003. On Feb. 27, the UN authorized a one-year, Chapter VII peacekeeping operation (UNOCI) consisting of 6,240 personnel. The French forces will remain in support of the UN mission. But the Linas-Marcoussis peace agreement is very fragile. Ethnic tensions and economic problems threaten stability in Côte D'Ivoire and the entire West Africa region. The violence directed towards women that has plagued Sierra Leone and Liberia also threatens Côte D'Ivoire as high rates of GBV and HIV are being reported in the north of the country.