Martin Myer Tumoe
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Rule of Law and Democratic GovernanceLiberia
Martin Myer Tumoe is a law enforcement professional and lawyer who currently serves as the county attorney for Rivercess County, Liberia. Martin is graduate of Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and the National Police Training Academy. He recently worked for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes in Liberia and Sierra Leone. There he trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges in criminal justice coordination courses. Martin is the founder of The Center Against Crimes and Injustices. He enjoys teaching, is passionate about upholding the rule of law and preaches messages of peace while protecting victims of crime.
IVLP Impact Award Project: Rule of Law and Democratic Governance
The Civic Engagement in Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law project was implemented in two communities within Paynesville City, Liberia. The project was implemented in conjunction with two partner organizations: The Center against Crimes and Injustices and Africa Children Initiative for Self-Empowerment. This project focused on legal education that will strengthen and sustain communities, students and youth. The project encouraged active participation in decision-making, rule of law, conflict management and resource allocation for equitable benefit. Operating within six high schools and community leadership structures, the project targeted over 180 participants.
The goals of the project were:
- To ensure youth participation in democratic governance
- To ensure that youth, students and community leaderships have an informed decision in conflict management and resolution
- To ensure participants adherence to the rule of law
190 students participated in the project, spread across 6 high schools and community leadership centers. The project had a key impact in creating sustainable civil democratic clubs in the schools and electing local leaders. Of the 190 participants, 150 of them were students from the participating schools and 30 were community and youth leaders. As a means of sustaining the project, a civil democratic club were developed in the schools. These civil democratic clubs worked with community-based organizations. The project also raised awareness about democratic governance and the rule of law through media campaigns and surveys. The success of Martin’s project led the community to ask for similar future trainings on topics such as electoral violence and gender rights.
IVLP Exchange Experience
Martin was a participant in the IVLP Project Rule of Law and the U.S. Judicial System, A Regional Project for Africa organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education (IIE).
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Burlington, VT