Monrovia – Liberia could be denied international support from partners because they have failed or are lacking behind in providing reports on human rights activities in the country. That’s according to the ‘Civil Society Human Rights Platform,’ which is a local human rights group.
According to Mr. Adama Dempster, Executive Director of the group, failure on the part of Liberia to report on the human rights situation, Liberia has the propensity of slowing major international partners’ support to the country.
At the end of a seminar that was aimed at drafting the universal periodic report on the maintenance of the respect for human rights in Liberia, he stressed the need to protect human rights defenders in Liberia by drafting a law or policy.
In May 2015, Liberia submitted its National Report to the Human Rights Council in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 16/21.
Following the submission of the report, Liberia accepted a number of recommendations including to swiftly implement actions to deepen efforts and dialogue to establish an accountability mechanism for human rights violations committed in the past, continue the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to foster national harmony; ensure that perpetrators of gender-specific violence and rape of minors are held accountable for their actions and improve the access to health services and economic assistance for victims.
The report also calls for the abolishment of the death penalty in legislation in order to respect the obligations arising from the ratification of the 2nd Optional Protocol by Liberia; continue judicial reform to improve access to justice by promoting better coverage throughout the country and by updating its prison system; continue to intensify efforts to strengthen the rule of law and the criminal justice system by developing the capacity of the judicial, legal and security sector; step up its efforts towards the ratification of other human rights conventions, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The recommendations further called on Liberian government to continue efforts in the field of health in the framework of the National Health and Social Welfare Policy and Plan; establish a follow-up mechanism for the National Health and Social Welfare Policy and Plan; put in place an accessible health-care system and consider applying the Technical Guidance on Preventable Mortality and Morbidity of children under the age of five years, which was developed by the World Health Organization; increase children ’s access to the education system; intensify its efforts to eradicate illiteracy, especially among women and girls
Also speaking, the Program Manager of the Serving Humanity for Empowerment and Development, Godo Kolubah, committed his organization to work with the Civil Society Human Rights Platform in meeting all international standards on the respect for human rights.
According to Mr. Kolubah, his organization is also working with the platform in order to provide the opportunity for Liberia to declare actions taken in improving human rights in the country. He explained that the Independent National Commission on Human Rights in collaboration with partners has also embarked on discussion aimed at compiling Liberia’s report.
For his part, the Human Rights Officer at the Liberia Office of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, David Dolo, assured the human rights community of his institution’s fullest cooperation aimed at enhancing its duty in the country.
The meeting brought together representatives from the government, local and international nongovernmental organizations including the Ministry of Justice, the FinnChurchAids, the National Traditional Council of Liberia, and the United Methodist Church Human Rights Monitor, amongst others.