Opening remarks by Ms. Lalla Ben Barka deputy executive secretary United Nations of ECA : regional seminar of experts on the prevention of ethnic and racial conflicts in Africa

Abstract

Opening Remarks by Ms. Lalla Ben Barka Deputy Executive Secretary United Nations Economic Commission for Africa at the Regional Seminar of Experts on the Prevention of Ethnic and Racial Conflicts in Africa. Ms. Barka, on her remarks highlighted that, ECA and the World Bank recently organized a seminar on the Development Implications of Ethnic Conflicts in Africa. Contrary to popular belief, the Seminar has established that Africa's civil wars are not due to its ethnic, racial and religious diversity. The Seminar noted that in many societies, pluralism and the recent democratic transition has brought ethnicity to the fore and reinforced ethnic identity in many societies. In order to effectively counter this trend, African countries need to institute democratic reforms that manage the challenge of diverse communities. ECA, the convening of this seminar could not have been more opportune as ECA has made the promotion of peace and stability an integral component of its programme focus. To this effect, it has, in collaboration with leading African civil society organizations, established the African Centre for Civil Society. ECA actively supports, and will continue to support, the organization’s efforts to make an effective contribution to the cause of peace and security on the continent.