MOBILISING SUPPORT FOR THE BRIDGING OF GAPS IN GLOBAL SECURITY, PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES PRESENTED BY CHIOMA I. IGBOEGWU INITIATOR: 3–DPIS THEORY COORDINATOR: COALITION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 3-DPIS INTIATIVE FOUNDER – AGENCY FOR AFRICAN FAMILIES IN DISTRESS (AAFID) VENUE: STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA DATE: JANUARY 9, 2008 THE BRIDGING OF GAPS IN GLOBAL SECURITY, PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES PRESENTED BY CHIOMA I. IGBOEGWU INITIATOR: 3–DPIS THEORY COORDINATOR: COALITION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 3-DPIS INTIATIVE FOUNDER – AGENCY FOR AFRICAN FAMILIES IN DISTRESS (AAFID) VENUE: STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA DATE: JANUARY 9, 2008

INTRODUCTION A momentous wind of revolutionary change is blowing across the entire world. Its forceful pressure is exposing and magnifying the strengths, weaknesses, and points of vulnerability of every region of the world and their various peoples. Great inventions, phenomenal advancement in science and technology, including nuclear energy, communication, art and culture, are being recorded. Incredibly vast fields of knowledge have opened. Yet, never in the history of mankind has the knowledge of the leaders of the various regions of the world and their people, including every one us in this Hall, been so severely challenged. Never has global security, peace and development been so profoundly threatened.

Contd: The Problem: The principle of manipulation and exploitation of the weak by the strong, due to one-sided striving for material gains and goals, earthly power and domination, have triggered a global crisis. Africa and other similar regions of the world have a tragic history of socio- economic distress, psychological trauma and the consequent emotional, personality and behavioural disorders, including anti-security and anti- development behaviour patterns. The backlash effect of this problem triggers violent conflicts, violent crimes, militancy, extremism, terrorism and illegal hazardous migration. Millions of psychologically traumatized women, children and youths, including refugees, the internally displaced, ex-child soldiers, victims of human trafficking, human rights abuses in various nations in Africa and other distressed regions are stranded. Heavy casualties, decimation of huge populations, unacceptable waste of human and material resources being recorded constitute an emergency that calls for the bridging of obvious gaps in security, peace and development strategies of the affected nations.

The Problem: This global crisis is the severe consequence of leadership deficits, perverse value orientation and the consequent socio- economic distress, psychological trauma and disorders of the people. The socio-economic and political tragedies of Darfur, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, among others, have proved without doubt, the profound vulnerability of women and children, as well as the overwhelming horror of youths and the aged to various kinds of psychological disorders during times of distress and conflicts. These categories of people have borne the brunt of Africa’s tragic history. These kinds of people are always the critical mass of millions of people around the world, who continue to suffer from the prolonged socio-economic distress, due to leadership deficits and perverse value orientation of their societies.

The Problem: THE BACKLASH EFFECT OF THIS TRAGEDY INCLUDES: Socio-economic and political conflicts Persistent migration of people from their homeland. Infiltration of criminals, including armed and terrorist groups across national and regional borders; prison over-population Human and drug trafficking Drug addiction, violent crimes, kidnappings, political assassinations, etc Illegal oil bunkering and oil pipe line vandalism Destruction of national and foreign investments General insecurity of foreigners and nationals, alike. Arms proliferation Youth militancy, terrorism, extremism and wars

Contd. Governments of African nations, and other similar regions of conflict are relentlessly making the effort to reinforce security, peace, and development through the enactment and enforcement of laws, as well as the establishment of structures, such as the following: 1. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 3. Reinforcement of Military and Paramilitary institutions 4. Prison Reforms 5. Human Rights Laws 6. Laws on Terrorism 7.Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation Programs However, the underlying psychological issues that perpetuate the crises in these region are neglected. This neglect creates gaps in security, peace and development strategies.

Contd. : Lack of adequate awareness, insight and skills as well as the perverse value orientation of most of the leaders and followers, alike, are responsible for the neglect and the consequent socio-economic and political conflicts that are tearing various nations apart. The knowledge of the people of Africa and all people of goodwill, worldwide, is being challenged to understand the cause of this crisis, confront and arrest it. Millions of voiceless and helpless African women, children and youths and other people from similar regions of conflict, worldwide, rely on people of knowledge and courage, who can make the difference, to intervene and protect our present day and collective future survival and for future generations.

Contd. : Psychological research investigation reports from various socio- economically deprived communities, shelters of refugees, the internally displaced, and victims of human trafficking will confront every person of goodwill with the saddest reality of our time- that while planet earth rotates around the sun each day, providing mankind the opportunity to develop, community, religious and political leadership of various African nations, especially, and other similar regions of conflict, in the past, failed to create the conducive environment for the development of their people Indeed, it can be said that even with the greatest good will of the present leadership in these various distressed regions, most of them actually inherited complicated problems they hardly know how to solve.

Contd. : Perverse value orientation, distorted perceptions, behaviour and attitudes, the manipulation and exploitation of the weak by the strong and the one-sided striving for material gains and goals, diminish the quality of the human person and create distress. Real values, such as creativity, compassion, discipline, hard work, selfless service, honesty, selfless love and consideration for others are the tools of nation building.

Contd. : As the momentous wind of change blows across the entire world, the critical mass of psychologically traumatised people in Africa and similar distressed regions need to be adequately prepared for the challenges of the new era, the 21 st Century. Globalisation, HIV/AIDS pandemic, climate change, violent conflicts, youth militancy, terrorrism, and wars are real and overwhelming challenges, which compel the mobilisation of support for implementation of a 3- Dimensional psychological intervention strategy (3-DPIS). In order to save Africa and the entire world from further catastrophic damage, a pro-social engagement with all categories of the people through the 3-DPIS Initiative will adequately empower them through psychological insight and healing, expansion of awareness, and the building of relevant skills, in order for them to collectively work towards the reformation of their socio-economic and political systems.

Contd. : Pro-social engagement with all categories of the African people and other peoples of similar distressed zones, through the 3-DPIS Initiative, is key to the arrest of the global security, peace and development crisis of the 21 st Century. This engagement is driven by the right development principle of supportive helping love and the striving for enduring sublime goals, such as the creation of awareness and insight, as well as the awakening, nurturing and reinforcement of the potentials of the people, which will ultimately empower them to transform their various families, communities, nations and regions, worldwide. The Following is a Diagrammatic Illustration of the highlights of the Crisis as well as the 3-DPIS Transformation Project:

Contd. :ZZ The 3-DPIS Theory states that in any nation or region of the world, where there is perverse value orientation (PVO) and leadership deficits (LD), there will, certainly be socio-economic distress, psychological trauma of the people, and a wide range of psychological disorders, including emotional and personality disorders, as well as behavior deficits, anti-social, anti-security, anti- development behavior patterns. The backlash effect(BKL) of this problem will trigger violent conflicts, including political conflicts, high crime wave, arms proliferation, prison over-population, youth militancy and terrorism. PVO + LD = SED + PT + PD = BKL The product = A High population of distressed people and weak social capital that will perpetuate the vicious circle. This crises not only holds development hostage, it diminishes the world and threatens to disintegrate it. This danger can be halted if the collective will of the leaders and people, boldly confront and arrest this decline through the implementation of a 3-Dimensional Psychological Intervention Strategy.

The 3-DPIS, involves the following : 1.Advocacy, including legislative advocacy; women/children/youths/public re-education, reorientation, sensitization and mobilization campaign for peace, security and development, which integrates the use of peace anthems 2.Psychological assessment and profiling as well as correctional diagnoses, promotive, preventive, curative, reformative and rehabilitative psychological services for offender reformation, rehabilitation and mental health of prisoners, including their economic empowerment and successful reintegration process. 3. Psychological assessment and profiling, as well as promotive, preventive, curative, reformative and rehabilitative psychological services, including economic empowerment, for psychologically traumatized women, children and youths, including displaced people, ex-child soldiers, ex-combatants, victims of human trafficking ; institutional capacity building & psychological research to ensure project sustainability.

Conclusion: Nigeria occupies a highly strategic leadership position, not only in Africa but for the entire Black race. Nigeria believes that the 3-DPIS is the missing link to security, peace and development in Africa. she believes that if Africa is to overcome the challenges of the 21 st Century, the 3-DPIS Initiative is to be integrated into its socio- economic reform agenda, in order to unlock the door to her greatest resource, which lies in the human mind and the human spirit. Nigeria has, therefore formed a National Coalition with AAFID for implementation of the Initiative in the nation and the commencement of a Regional Mobilization Campaign for the implementation of the Initiative in the entire Africa region. The 3- DPIS is also needed to heal the severe psychological wounds inflicted upon diverse members of Africans in Diaspora, as well as the diverse categories of people, worldwide, who suffer as a result of their present backgrounds or tragic history. It is urgently needed for all distress zones that share a similar history with the African people.

Contd. : Human beings are seeds of creation. Every person, irrespective of colour, gender, religion, and social status, has unimaginable potentials. If they are provided with the conducive environment, these people can unfold creative abilities and master pieces, never yet seen in all human endeavors for the peace and happiness of their families, communities, nations and, indeed, for all mankind. This is the development that has been denied the world through the subjection of millions of people in Africa and other distressed regions of the world to many decades of socio-economic distress and conflicts. The world will certainly be more peaceful and secure if the millions of psychologically traumatised women, children and youths in various nations in Africa and other distressed regions of the world, are psychologically healed and empowered to join in the development of their families, communities and nations. This step is the most effective strategic intervention that will tackle these underlying e people. This step is the most effective strategic intervention that will tackle the on-going security, peace and development crisis in Africa and the entire world. The human being is a seed of creation. Each one, irrespective of race, gender, religion or status has the potential to unfold such creative abilities, works of excellence and master pieces, yet unseen. This is the kind of development that the world has been denied through the subjection of millions of people in Africa and other distressed regions to decades of severe socio-economic distress, psychological trauma and disorders. The 21 st Century is the era of expansion of awareness, insight, healing, reconciliation, the development of the human person and the certainty of a global peace.

Contd. :. The binding and healing of the psychological wounds inflicted upon the diverse categories of people is the antidote to conflicts, violent crimes, terrorism, and wars. Global security, peace and development are achievable and it is time for the mobilisation of support, in order to bridge these highlighted gaps in strategies. This is the aim of the 3- DPIS Campaign. Let us, therefore make up our minds and be driven by the power of our spirits to demand and ensure the implementation of the Initiative to heal and uplift Africa and other distressed region of conflict in order to usher in the reign of peace throughout the world.

Contd. : This step is the most effective strategic intervention that will tackle these underlying, psychological issues, which are critical to peace, security and development. Their neglect created gaps in global security, peace and development strategies. The 3-DPIS is, therefore aimed at addressing these issues, in order to arrest the crises. the world through the binding and healing of the psychological wounds inflicted upon the diverse categories of the African people and peoples of the world..

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