LiFT, WONGOSOL Create Awareness on TRC Implementation

Participants pose shortly after the stakeholder’s engagement meeting held at the Lutheran compound in Sinkor

Liberia Future Trust (LIFT), a civil society organization has recently concluded a one day stakeholders engagement meeting to sensitize participants on the importance of the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations for Liberia.

The meeting was supported by the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund through Conciliation Resources in partnership with the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL). 

It brought together women-led organizations across Montserrado County, under the theme: “Implementation of the TRC Recommendations to Break Barriers and Circle of Impunity by Establishing War Crimes Court in Liberia”. 

Berthee Forbpabeo, WONGOSOL’s Project Officer, who provided an overview of the meeting told participants that there are too many women in the country living with bullets in their bodies, and so the establishment of the war crimes court will allow them to explain their stories, which would be documented.  

She emphasized that WONGOSOL is implementing a project in Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Bomi, Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties with the aim of empowering women who were affected greatly to advocate in their districts and counties for lawmakers to enact into law a bill for the establishment of the court.

The TRC recommendation contains major findings on the root causes of the conflict, the impact of the conflict on women, children and the generality of the Liberian society; responsibility for the massive commission of Gross Human Rights Violations (GHRV), and violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) as well as Egregious Domestic Law Violations (EDLV).

The report also determined and recommended that Criminal Prosecution for these violations, Reparations and a “Palava Hut” Forum is necessary and desirable to redress impunity, promote peace, justice, security, unity and genuine national reconciliation.

Madam Forbpabeo said WONGOSOL is partnering with seven local civil society organizations in the targeted counties to provide intensive training as a way to enhance the participation of local women in the advocacy to ensure that those who committed human rights are brought to book.

She expressed the optimism that the war crimes court will serve as a deterrent for would-be human rights abusers to rethink themselves before engaging in any act of war in Liberia in the future.

“The project’s overall goal is to build on the current international and local momentum to increase women’s voices, representation and meaningfully participate in on-going advocacy, aimed at generating the political will for the Liberian government to prioritize the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia,” she stated.

For his part, Dr.  James Davis, LiFT’s Consultant used the occasion to call on the government to ensure that they implement the 207 recommendations they all agreed upon including women empowerment, among others.

Mr. Davies also wants the civil society organizations to put pressure on the government to implement those recommendations from the TRC.However, the participants used the occasion to immediately call for an increased awareness of the implementation of TRC recommendations across Liberia’s 15 Counties.  They also appeal for a centre to be created while victims of the civil war will go there to explain their ordeals.