By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) 2024 Human Rights Report on Liberia has detailed several human rights violations by the Liberian government.
The report named prolonged pretrial detention, rape and gender-based violence (GBV) incidents, delays by rule of law institutions to adjudicate cases in a timely manner and the unexplained absence of judicial officers in counties and harmful traditional practices.
According to the report, there were also cases of enforced disappearance in Liberia in 2024.
The report referenced Guinean national Abrahima Kalil Cherif “illegal arrest”, his disappearance from the Monrovia Central Prison and subsequent extradition.
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights said the failure to produce evidence, enforce judicial orders, and ensure due process in the extradition proceedings of Cherif reflect poorly on Liberia’s commitment to human rights.
“It can be recalled that in August 2023, the Liberia Government illegally expelled Sierra Leone’s former chief Superintendent of Police Mohammed Yaetey Turay to face prosecution in connection with an alleged failed coup in his home country.” The statement said.
Turay was dismissed by President Julius Maada Bio in May of 2020, and has been residing in Liberia along with his family until his arrest on august 4.
Lack of Investigation for Killing by Non-state
The INCHR recorded cases of the alleged lack of investigation for killing by non-state actors.
“In instances, cases of mob violence, ritualistic killings and mysterious death have been reported.” INCHR said.
According to the report there were cases of killings as the results on the excessive use of force by state security actor(s) abound.
“For example, on July 1, 2024, an LNP officer allegedly killed a 17-year-old boy who was a student of the Kendija Public School, in Paynesville City. The incidence occured when the LNP officer and a suspect were involved in an altercation. In an attempt to use force to restraint the suspect, he (the LNP officer) discharged his weapon fatally killing the 17-year boy in Rehab Community of Paynesville City.” INCHR noted.
Cases of Death in Custody of State Authority
“On April 12, 2024, a 32-year-old man, detained at the Salem Police Station on the Airfield in Monrovia, was discovered dead in police withholding cell.” The report said.
According to the report, in another incidence on June 4, 2024, a sheriff at the Clay Ashland Magisterial Court died behind bars at the Zone Six Police Deport in Brewerville District #17 Montserrado County.
“Additionally, there was reports of peaceful assembly ending in violence where protesters were either arrested or beaten by state security in the case of November 18, 2024 when students of the University of Liberia were manhandled and detained.”
Conditions of Prisons
Around the country, the report says there are appalling Conditions of Prisons with diseases such as TB and Hepatitis B been on the rampage in prisons making inmates and corrections vulnerable.
Prolong pretrial dentition has also been on the increase contributing to overcrowdings of prisons across the country.
The INCHR has also noted the state of Liberian children: “Cases of worst from of labor especially on rubber plantations, sexual violence against children mostly minor.”
“Juveniles detained and sentenced in prisons instead of juvenile reformatories, children accused of witchcrafts and subjected to torture and expose to violence in public etc.” The statement.
Harmful Traditional Practices
According to the report, there are still harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), trial by ordeal and ritualistic killings are on the increase.
Despite the call by government and traditional leaders the practice of these traditional things, such as FGM still affect young children who are supposed to be in school.
Recommendations
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has recommended for the government to investigate allegations of killings by state and non-state actors and ensure that perpetrators are bought to justice.
INCHR called on the legislature to adopt legislation on legal aid to address the issue of the right to counsel and legal education for everyone and proceed expeditiously with the construction of proposed Cheesmanburg prison facilities to decongest the awful prison condition at the Monrovia Central Prison and other prisons in the country, as well, engage in the decriminalization of petit offenses to reduce prison overcrowdings while emphasizing more on non-custodial method.
“Strengthen the civilian complaint board with the requisite resources to have a functional secretariat to address complaints on the misconduct of the law enforcement officers. Additionally, support and make the Professional Standard Division of the LNP viable to execute its duties.” The statement said.
The report called on the government to ensure that the use of non-lethal weapons by law enforcement straightly consistent with the standard operating procedures, best practices and international human rights standards and hold law enforcement officers accountable for crimes committed including killings.
The rights watchdog wants the Boakai-Koung Administration to criminalize all harmful traditional practices including FGM, enact legislation that criminalizes torture with the appropriate sanction and combat widespread impunity for violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
It also wants the government to ensure the timely implementation of the four-year National Action Plan for Child Welfare and Protection for Liberia, and allocate sufficient resources for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to implement the plan.
“Prioritize the Strategy for the Protection of Girls and Child Marriage (2016) in conformity with the 2063 Agenda of the African Union and Criminalize Female Genital Mutilation. Strengthen the capacity of the INCHR through logistic and financial support to carry out its statutory function and as well through cooperation with national human rights institutions of other countries.”
The INCHR recommends that the government expedite the ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the rights of the child on the involvement of children in armed conflict as well as the Optional Protocol on complaint mechanism.
It then called on the government to ensure the protection of refugees, and enact a robust refugee legislation that will guarantee the rights of those seeking political alyssum in Liberia and as well launch an impartial investigation into the two recent illegal expulsion of individuals from Sierra Leone and Guinea.
