country programs
About Youth Crime Watch of Guinea-Bissau
Jovens Construindo a Cidadania Guine-Bissau (JCCGB), the local Youth Crime Watch implementation in Guinea-Bissau, helps schools and communities in Guinea-Bissau start and sustain their own YCW programs. Services include:
- Background information about YCW
- YCW awareness presentations
- YCW implementation training for your site
- Technical assistance getting your site started
- Technical assistance once your site is up and running
News from Guinea-Bissau
August 2010: JCC marches against cluster bombs
JCCGB members joined other youth association in a march from Chapa de Bissau to Praca dos Herois Nacionais on the morning of August 1, 2010. The event culminated in a meeting to talk about the Convention on Cluster Munitions which went into force on that day. Beating a drum as they went, the walkers symbolically called for all countries to respect the ban on cluster bombs.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) – the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty since the Mine Ban Treaty more than a decade ago – entered into force and became binding international law on 1 August, 2010.
Adopted in Dublin on 30 May 2008 and opened for signature in Oslo in December 2008, the CCM bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions and requires the destruction of stockpiles within eight years, clearance of cluster munition-contaminated land within 10 years, and assistance to cluster munition survivors and affected communities. All of the treaty's provisions are now fully and legally binding for states parties. Globally, 108 countries have signed, and 38 have ratified. (Source: Defence Management Journal)
July 2010: Wind storm destroys homes in Bissau
A violent windstorm swept through Bissau this week destroying or damaging 217 homes and displacing 2,140 people. JCCGB members answered a call from the Bissau Municipal Council to join efforts to tally the damages. Photos online.
Click to see more photos.
June 2010: JCCGB group cleans up to fight cholera
The Bancada Brasil site of JCC Guinea-Bissau organized a two-day volunteer community cleanup in preparation for the impending cholera season. The activity climaxed in a well-deserved celebration on June 1st with musical entertainment from four local youth, a poem competition and a fashion show. JCC Guinea-Bissau board members Malam Camará, Buan Nambana, Adepdoc Có and Jason David were on hand to pass out rewards.
May 2010: JCCGB meets fortnightly
The leadership of JCC Guinea-Bissau has initiated fortnightly meetings with leaders from the various JCC/YCW sites (bancadas). The bancadas share information about their local campaigns and touch base with the central group.
In a meeting held May 22, for example, JCCGB President Malam Camara led a discussion of the UN model police station project in which JCCGB is participating. The group also outlined future plans for training and conferences. There is a great desire to send a delegation to the next international meeting of Youth Crime Watch when one is scheduled. Members expressed interest in visiting YCW sites in the U.S. as part of any future trip there. Nuelson Carlitos Gomes of bancada Brasil, one of the JCC groups represented at the meeting, outlined their plans for a community cleanup to help prevent cholera as the rainy season begins. Other bancadas offered to pitch in as well with material help as well as manpower. Bancada Brasil is also organizing an International Children's Day celebration (June 1st) and is gathering funds for the event.
Regular organizational meetings help JCCGB members direct their energies to projects as they arise. It is a great way to keep the program fresh.
April 24, 2010: Meeting under a mango tree
A group of youths from the Bairro de Reino Gambiafada, Bairro de Sintra and Bairro de Missira neighborhoods in Bissau, impressed by the philosophy and objectives of JCC/YCW-GB invited JCC/YCW-GB to explain in details the aims and objectives of the NGO.
The meeting was held outside under a mango tree in the Sintra neighborhood. Leaders from other JCC/YCW-GB sites, Malam Camará, Jason David and Manuel de Almeida Pereira legal Adviser of United Nations Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) participated.
The President of JCC/YCW-GB, Malam Camará, first asked two JCC/YCW site leaders to share their experiences with starting up a YCW program. Camará outlined the history of YCWA, its objectives and "Watch Out! Help Out!" philosophy. He explained that JCC/YCW-GB is a nongovernment and nonprofit organization affiliated with YCWA and that the program empowers youth to identify and to correct problems that affect their schools and neighborhoods and gives them tools and a support mechanism in standing up to crime, violence and drug abuse.
Camará wrapped up the meeting with a promise to give them more documentation of how to start as well as census forms for registration of their groups.
April 2010: JCC/YCW Guinea-Bissau participates in community panel to select police officer candidates
As a part of the United Nations police reform process in Guinea-Bissau, JCC/YCW has been invited to sit on a panel evaluating applications for police positions at a new model police station in Bairro Militar. Positions to be filled range from the lower ranks all the way up to the post of police commander. The panel of six includes three police staff from the United Nations Integrated Office for Consolidation of the Peace in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), one member of the UNIOGBIS human rights unit, one member of the staff of the National Police Commissioner, and one civil society representative (JCC/YCW-GB). It is a mark of the esteem in which JCC/YCW is held in Guinea-Bissau that it was chosen for such a task.
The majority of the police officers interviewed were men. Most were not fluent Portuguese speakers, most also lacked information on community-police dynamics, and most were above the age of 40. JCC/YCW recommends that selection and recruiting consider the gender balance. Further it suggests training to overcome the language deficiency and inter-community relations. Establishing communication between the community and police is also important. Some ideas are exchange programs, sports and cultural events, and conferences or workshops involving a cross-section of the neighborhood including youth, residents, community leaders and police.
[Click image to zoom]
March 2010: JCC/YCW Guinea-Bissau joins in women's day festivities
JCC/YCW-GB was invited to participate International Women's Day (March 8) celebrations organized by the National Parliament/Government Women and the Institute of Women and Children (IMC). Activities included a football (soccer) tournament, a 5 kilometer march, a seminar at the National Assembly, and a walk from the Cais de Pinjiguiti to the Praça dos Herois Nacional.
At the football tournament on March 5, JCC/YCW-GB's women's team faced off with the women of the Ministry of the Interior (police). The Police squad won with a score of 0-1.
On March 6, youth from various JCC/YCW sites joined a 5 km march with two truck trailers and music bands, starting from the Av. Combatentes da Liberdade Patria and Bairro Miliatar Main crossroads to Praça dos Herois Nacionais, with the slogan: Mulher na Consolidação da Paz, Reconciliação Nacional, Democracia e Luta Contra a Pobreza (Women for Peace, National Reconciliation, Democracy and the Fight Against Poverty).
On the morning of March 7, JCC/YCW-GB youth participated in a seminar on the theme "Women for Peace, National Reconciliation, Democracy and the Fight Against Poverty" at the National Assembly Hall. The conference launched Guinea-Bissau's National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Resolution 1325(2000).
On International Women's Day, the 8th of March, 50 JCC/YCW-GB youth participated in a walk from Cais de Pinjiguiti to the Praça dos Herois Nacional.
February 2010: JCC/YCW celebrates first year in Guinea-Bissau
To mark the first anniversary of its founding, JCC Guinea-Bissau held a two-day celebration Febraury 19-20, 2010. On the first day, a delegation of JCC/YCW youth, accompanied by reporters from six radio stations, completed a tour of the Segunda Esquadra Prison. The next day kicked off with a seminar at the Lenox Hall in Bissau. Here 150 youth had the opportunity to hear first hand about the fight against crime and drugs from the UNODC legal advisor, the Deputy National Director of Interpol and the head of the Police Commissioner's Drug Unit. After lunch, youth reconvened at the Plack II football field to show their stuff in a friendly football (soccer) match.
We congratulate the team in Guinea-Bissau on a very promising first year and wish them the best in the future.
2009 Annual Report
JCC/YCW Guinea-Bissau has released its annual report for good work done in 2009. It is available in both English and Portuguese.
- 2009 Annual Report (English)
- 2009 Relatorio Anual (Portuguese)
December 2009: JCC members attend violence training
Three members of JCC Ginea-Bissau attended a four-day workshop on youth violence led by trainers from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Full report (PDF 1.8 MB).
December 2009: JCC takes part in workgroup on youth issues
Malam Camara, president of JCC/YCW Guinea-Bissau took part in a national level workgroup at the UNODC Ministry of Justice. The meeting, which stretched to ten hours, included UN representatives and national justice leaders. Present at the panel were Mrs G. Mazza, UN Representative in Guinea Bissau, Joseph Mutaboba, Representative Of UNOGBIS, Mamasaliu Djaló Pires, Minister Of Justice, Alexandre Schimidt,UNODC Regional Representative, Manuel de Almeida Pereira, UNODC Legal adviser for Guinea Bissau, Vladimir Monteiro, UNOGBIS comunication officer, Malam Camara, President of JCC/YCW-GB, and Luis Peti, Lawyer from Ministry of Justice.
November 2009: George Ionita recognized for support of JCCGB
A certificat of appreciation was presented to George Ionita, MD, MPH, MS, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guinea-Bissau, in recognition of his support of the Jovens Construindo Cidadania program. The presentation was made by Malam Camara, president of the JCC/YCW GB.
August 5-6, 2009: JCCGB takes part in defense and security conference
The President of Jovens Construindo a Cidadania Guine-Bissau Malam Camara and Vice Chief of European Mission in Guinea Bissau Colonel Fernando Afonso at the August conference on defense and security.
JCC Guinea-Bissau was pleased to take part in a two-day conference on defense and security this summer. A full report from the conference delegation is available here in PDF format (PDF 8.4 MB).
July 2009: JCCGB civic education campaign for national elections
JCCGB election campaigners Aurelio Correia Co, Aua Camara and Lassana Nanco in action.
Three youths from JCC/YCW-GB participated in June and July 2009 in a door-to-door civic education campaign organized by Comissao Nacional das Eleicoes of Guinea Bissau- CNE (National Election commission) to promote participation in the first round and second round of presidential election in Guinea Bissau. The Organizacao de Sociedade Civil (Civil Society Organizations) called upon youth organizations to send three representatives on this door-to-door campaign with the message "ANO’S I GUINEENSIS, ANO’S I N’SON" (We are Guineans, we are one.) The campaign promotes the civic obligation and right of each citizen to elect their nation's president. Candidates Malam Bacai Sanha of PAIGC party and Kumba Yala of PRS party met in the second round of elections in July.
Earlier in the spring, JCCGB participated in efforts to promote peaceful elections in problem areas. Project t-shirts bore the message "As Eleições não Servem perante a violência" (Elections don't serve for violence.)
July 2009: First two JCC sites formed
JCC Guinea-Bissau has formed its first two program sites. They are Bairro da Ajuda and Bairro de Bandim, both in the city of Bissau.
Bairro da Ajuda, Bissau: Mama-Saliu Jalo, Samba Lamine Dabo, Iaia Nancobna, Seco Keita(Leader of site Bancada), Abudu Sisse, Calido Djalo e Almame Fati. Site leader Bancada Ladrão views the initiative as a window of opportunity for the youth of the Ajuda neighborhood and for the youth of Guinea Bissau in general.
Bairro de Bandim, members of the site Bancada "Somente as Estrelas": (back) Marçelino da Silva, Bitchalo D. Có, Sadjó Balde, Tinoca J. Nanque, Serafim P. Gomes; (front) site leader Madiu Baldé, Orácio Djύ, Casimiro J. Nanque and Mamadύ Có
May 25-26, 2009: JCCGB takes part in conference on dialogue in Guinea-Bissau
JCC Guinea-Bissau was invited to take part in a two-day conference organized by the Human Rights League of Guinea-Bissau. The event, Dialogue in Guinea-Bissau: Military and political stabilization in Guinea-Bissau as the key for lasting peace in the region, attracted 200 participants from the armed forces, civic organizations, the political arena, business and non-profits. Thematically the conference discussion fell into four areas:
- Civil-military dialogue as an instrument for the prevention of conflicts and consolidation of the rule of law
- Obstacles to political administration and an integrated system of promoting rights in Guinea-Bissau
- Impacts of the modernization and professionalization of the defence and security sectors
- Contributions of traditional power holders in resolving violent conflicts
Photos from this event below:
National conference site
The Imam, Chief of the Gabu Region, and Luis Vas Martins, president of the Human Rights League of Guinea-Bissau, with Malam Camara, president of JCC Guinea-Bissau
Military pilot Nafantchamna "Youri" Bissau outlining his views on conflict resolution
May 25, 2009: Statue dedicated to leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement
Members of JCC Guinea-Bissau pose with their banner at the end of their 7km march to the statue of Amilcar Lopes Cabral, leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement.
JCC Guinea-Bissau took part in the ceremonial dedication of the statue of Amilcar Lopes Cabral on May 25th, as part of the celebration of Africa Day. The country's Prime Minister, members of the cabinet and surviving relatives of Amilcar Lopes Cabral took part in the festivities. JCCGB completed a seven kilometer march to the ceremonial site outside of the capitol city. More photos from the event (PDF 3.9 MB).
May 14, 2009: JCCGB signs memorandum of understanding
Jovens Construindo a Cidadania Guine-Bisssau, YCW's affiliate in Guinea-Bissau, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports' Institute of Youth. Fernando N. Saldanha, President, represented the Institute of Youth and Malam Camara, President, represented JCCGB.
Fernando N. Saldanha, President of Institute of Youth of Guinea Bissau and Malam Camará, President of Jovens Construindo a Cidadania/Youth Crime Watch of Guinea Bissau, shake hands after signing the memorandum of understanding between their organizations.
May 2009: JCCGB participates in campaign to prevent the spread of cholera
Volunteers pitched in with the armed forces in cleanup efforts. Pictured, center, is the Minister of Health of Guinea-Bissau and the Mayor of Bissau City with volunteers and soldiers at the cleanup launch.
Volunteers from the JCC Guinea-Bissau program responded to a call from the Mayor of Bissau City Armando A. Napoco to pitch in with the armed forces in a massive cleanup effort fight the spread of Cholera. The campaign spanned the last two weeks of April. Guinea-Bissau's national Health Ministry has issued warnings as the rainy season approaches and has implored local authorities to clean up in an effort to prevent an outbreak of a cholera epidemic.
Cholera is a very dangerous disease spread by poor sanitary conditions and is especially prevalent in developing countries. Those infected experience severe vomiting and diarrhea which lead to rapid and severe dehydration. Without immediate medical treatment, cholera can lead to death within hours after symptoms begin. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water, thus cleaning efforts can play a primary role in fighting the disease.
The campaign had the strong support of Guinea-Bissau's Health Ministry and mobilized volunteers and armed forces in a combined effort to combat the dangers posed by poor sanitary conditions.
See photos from April 18th cleanup and April 25th cleanup
(PDF - large files).
Pictured: Army Commander Zamora Induta shakes hands with JCCGB's Malam Camará. Minister of Health Camilo Simões Pereira is on the right.
March 2009: JCCGB introduces Youth Crime Watch concepts to Guinea-Bissau
Jovens Construindo a Cidadania Guine-Bissau invited youth organizations, government institutions and press organizations to learn about Youth Crime Watch concepts at a half-day event on March 28. A number of national youth organizations were present, as were representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Liga dos Direitos Humanos, four radio stations and the weekly Gazeta de Noticias.
JCCGB outlined the basics of the Youth Crime Watch program model and introduced the organization on the national scene. Organizers fielded numerous questions from participants and the event was an overall success.
We wish the group in Guinea-Bissau the very best of luck in their future endeavors.
Photos below:
Participants at the March 28 introductory event.
Dr. Seide of the Liga dos direitos humanos and the representative from the Youth Ministry.
Participants at the event learned about Youth Crime Watch concepts.
JCCGB president Malam Camara answered questions from the press - Rádio Pinjiquite, Rádio Nossa, Rádio Voz de Quelele, rádio Bombulom and the Gazeta de Bissau.
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