Accra, July 18, GNA - The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) is leading a 20-member delegation from across West Africa to New York to participate in the United Nations Global Conference for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, scheduled for July 19 to July 21. The conference, which is on the theme: "From Reaction to Prevention: Civil Society Forging Partnerships to Prevent Conflict and Build Peace", will be opened by the UN Secretary-General, Busumuru Kofi Annan.

The Executive Director of WANEP, Mr Emmanuel Bobande will lead the delegation.

Ghana's Deputy Minister of Lands, Mines and Forestry, Mrs Theresa Tagoe is also part of the delegation, according to a statement signed by Mr Jacob Enoh-Eben, Coordinator of the conference.

It said, as the West African regional initiator for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), WANEP would present the West African Regional Action Agenda to the conference. "The Regional Agenda recognizes the magnitude of destruction caused by violent conflicts in the Sub-Region and recommends proactive solutions for civil society organisations, governments and the international community to mitigate and resolve violent conflicts."

The Agenda, together with others from 14 regions around the world, form the basis of the Global Action Agenda for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.

"The Global Action Agenda is a call by civil society for a profound and fundamental change of approach by governments towards conflict: to acknowledge civil society contribution to conflict prevention and to work with them in building a safer and more peaceful world." The European Centre for Conflict Prevention (ECCP) in response to a recommendation of the Secretary General's Report on the Prevention of Armed Conflict initiated the GPPPAC process.

The West African Agenda was adopted in Accra in September 2004 during a regional conference held under the theme: "Consolidating the Role of Civil Society in Promoting Good Governance and Preventing Violent Conflicts". Each of the 14 countries that participated at the Accra Regional meeting would form part of the West African delegation. Established in 1998, the West Africa Network for Peace-building, WANEP is a sub-regional organisation based in Accra with National Offices in 12 countries across West Africa and a network of over 387 member organizations spread out in West Africa and Cameroon.