The Daily IIJ

A policy consultative forum between members of the National Legislature and Civil Society organizations has been convened in Monrovia with a call for mutual respect amid damaging   perceptions of both institutions.

From the perspective of the Civil Society, the National Legislature  is perceived as self -centered, corrupt, and insensitive to the plight of those they represent. On the other hand members of the National Legislature perceived the Civil Society as corrupt advocates bend on ridiculing the legislature.

But members of the Legislature and the Civil Society during the consultative policy forum over the weekend agreed to chat a new course in their engagement.

Members of the Legislature and Civil Society also decided on the formation of strategic alliance on the passage of legislations as well as advocacy.

They further agreed on creating the avenue for comprehensive research, capacity building and mutual respect amongst others.

Speaking earlier at the opening session of the Forum House Speaker J. Alex Tyler told the forum that perceptions that the Legislature and Civil Society are adversaries must be done away with.

He called on lawmakers and the Civil Society to adopt a new formula to ensure constructive engagements on crucial national issues.

The one- day policy consultative forum between members of the National Legislature and Civil Society was organized by the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), the West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF and the Liberia Office of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

The objective of the policy forum was to amongst other things explore the modalities for establishing a structured mechanism for Civil Society and the Legislature to collaborate.