MONROVIA – The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) based in Paris, France and the Regional Watch for Human Rights (formally Liberia Watch for Human Rights) are calling on the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government of President George Manneh Weah to ensure the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in the country.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), is an international organization established in 1922 with more than 200 human rights organizations as members from around the globe.
Its exemplary status at the global level earned it permanent seats at United Nations and European Union formulating policies to promote and protect all mankind globally.
Regional Watch for Human Rights, however, joined FIDH membership in 1994 during the heat of the Liberian civil war.
In a dispatch jointly issued under the signature of the Regional Advocate of the Regional Watch for Human Rights, Tola Thompson Adebayor, the groups noted that the CDC-government should establish the court to prosecute those who committed heinous crimes and atrocities in the country.
When established, the dispatch pointed out, that the court will not only end the culture of impunity, but it will also serve as a warning to other would-be war and economic crimes perpetrators.
“Regional Watch for Human Rights (RWHR) and its International partner jointly call upon CDC led government, headed by President George Manneh Weah to seize the opportunity of wooing International Community for maximum supports by signing into law the establishment of war Crime and economic crime in Liberia in other to bring to book those who bear the highest responsibility in 14 years civil war,” the dispatch reveals.
It adds: “It is our strong conviction that establishment of war crime in Liberia will not only put an end to culture of impunity but also will serve as deterrent to other would-be human rights violators of such; which of course George Weah government can take advantage of to redeem already dented image among his counterparts and other comity of nations”.
Be responsive
At the same time, the Lead Advocate of the group has called on government to be more ‘responsive and sensitive’ in addressing the plights confronting Liberians.
According to him, government should implore new approaches to address the mountainous challenges citizens are faced with.
“President Weah is advised not to print new additional 35 billion (Liberian Dollars) to join the controversial 16 billion CDC led government took delivery of in March of this year, and 25 million United States Dollars to mob economy, without convincing accountable report to the people,” he stated.
Ascendancy
Meanwhile, Mr. Tola Thompson Adebayor, has been elected as the Vice President for West Africa to the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
Advocate Joseph Tola Thompson Adebayor, a British trained Liberian lawyer, was elected at the 40th World Congress of International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in France recently.
He was elected as the first Anglophone vice president in West Africa.
Regional Watch for Human Rights (Liberia) and Civil Liberty Organization in Nigeria are the only two Anglophone countries that have membership with FIDH in West Africa so far.
The recent 40th congress brought more than 145 countries together in Taipei, Taiwan, where a new code of officers were elected, including 1 President, 15 Vice Presidents, 5 General Secretaries and 1 Treasurer around the world.
The World congress of FIDH comes up every 3 to 4 years and its venue is rotational among the membership countries around the World