Monrovia – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday April 25, called on the Government of Liberia to strengthen and improve the criminal justice system of the country.
The Commission made the call during program marking the 3rd anniversary of the Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day held at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, under the theme: “Upholding, Protecting and Promoting the Rights of Suspects in the Criminal Justice System”.
Prosper Addo, the head of African Union in Liberia, said the celebration is to promote advocacy and sensitize AU members states about proper treatment of suspects before trial.
Addo said the Africa Commission on Human and People’s Rights launched the initiative to improve the way suspects in pre-trail detention are treated within the criminal justice system on the continent.
“The celebration of this day in Liberia must therefore highlight the right treatment of suspects in police cells and other detention facilities and ensure timely trial and recognition and respect of human rights of these suspects,” Addo said.
Addo commended efforts of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, development partners and the government for organizing the event.
He noted that the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms in Africa reinforces the invariability of the rights of every individual, require to ensured peace, security, growth and development.
“It is important in addressing criminal justice system issues to ensure the protection of suspects and their defenders by according them the rights they deserved,” he averred.
The AU Head further stated that the African Chapter on Human and People’s Rights clearly underscored the rights to liberty and security of a person and the right of every individual to have his voice heard before passing any form of judgement and penalty.
Addo referenced Chapter 7 of the African Chapter on Human and People’s rights, which calls “for the right to appeal, the right to be presume innocent until proven guilty by competent court of tribunal, the right to defense and the right to trial by impartial court within a reasonable time but obviously these provisions, as we all know, are not often fully respected.”
At the same time, Addo pointed out corruption as one of the factors which continues to undermine the criminal justice system of Africa due to inducement, nepotism and favoritism among government officials.
“The issue of corruption continues to undermine justice delivery in the criminal justice system. Government officials, members of Civil Society acknowledged the existence of corruption and its negative effect and have called for the promotion of transparency and accountability in the delivery of justice.”
He adds: “But most of these calls fall on deaf ears as a result of financial inducement, nepotism, bias and favoritism among others. The event commemorating this day will prove fertile if all the good suggestions and recommendations preferred offered null and void as a result of partiality, favoritism and refusal to implement our leaders’ provisions in the face of bribery and corruption.”
For his part, the acting Chair of the INCHR, Bartholomew B. Colley said few years ago the African Union on Human and People’s Rights launched a new bid to improve the criminal justice system across Africa.
Colley said the new standards known as the ‘Luanda Guidelines’ deals with the conditions of arrest, police custody and pre-trial detention in Africa.
He noted that the standards were adopted by commission over the impact of overcrowded prison facilities and the consequences of arbitrary arrest and prolong pretrial detention.
Colley defined Pretrial detention as a period of detention order by Judicial authority pending court trial; pretrial detainees include those who have been arrested but not yet remained into custody and those who have been sentenced but are still appealing their conviction.
He said assessment conducted by the commission across Africa established that about 43% of the total prison population comprised of pretrial detainees, rating Central Africa alone at about 21,000 people held in custody waiting for their rights to fair trial, East Africa 70,000 while West Africa is 65,000.
INCHR Chairman said research conducted a year ago shows that about 65% of prisoners in Liberia are pretrial detainees.