Protection concerns raised by civil society

April 3, 2007

The weekly meeting of the Human Rights protection Forum, an Umbrella NGO grouping together approximately 50 huam rights defence Civil Society Group for this raised three main questions on the measures being taken by UNMIL, Dyco and the Government to ensure future observance of human rights by the new security services under way.

1. Starting from a complaint that some LNP personnel were brutalising cilivians ( a case of use of excessive force and resulting in a death was cited) the NGO at the meeting demanded that information be provided to the public about how much human rights education is included in the training programme which LNP recruits undergo. Those responsible for the training of the new LNP - mainly UNMIL owes civil society information to allay the fears.

2. With the above in mind, the members feared that the Armed Forces of Liberia in the past reaked havoc on the civilian population and grossely violated their rights. As human rights protection activists, they see the need to ensure no repeat of that through education and sensitisation of the recruits into the AFL in human rights. Can those with authority - GoL and UNMIL as well as DyCo furnish information on the integration of the human rights component into the course or training new recruits follow?

On the two questions raised by the NGOs, it might be relevant to either seek such infromation and help in its dissemination to human rights defence NGOs,Use future meetings on capacity building or information sharing such as the last one we held to review HRPS's thematic reports. Now that the one on Orphanage has come out, we could plan such a session soon to include sharing information in our possession. UNPOL as well as someone from the Ministry of Defence/DyCo could be invited to provide some needed clarifications on the provisions made for guaranteeing citizens' HR in the future.

3. The meeting also briefly discussed the very slow speed with which the process of appointing the Commissioners to the Independent National Commission for Human Rights (INCHR). Information was shared that the original letter to the Presidency by the Special Panel with the list of the recommended 11 names was lost and if civil agitating for quick action wanted to assist, they should produce the list in question. The Special Panel was to be sought to help produce the list. This means the process is further stalled.

In another move, a public position taken by six prominent Liberian Civil Society Organisations demanding that the Government be more vigorous and indiscriminate in its measures of exposing and prosecuting persons who during their tenure of public office positions engaged in corrupt, dubious or any illegal practices. Praise is given to government for the few cases under way but much more is demanded for more thorough scrutiny into the cases of those identified by the ECOWAS and EC Reports.

Our protection role here lies in timely collection of all necessary information and effectively disseminating it to those who have a duty to know and act.