MONROVIA, Montserrado – Andrew Gilmour, the United Nations assistant secretary-general for human rights, says the human rights gains in Liberia are still precarious.

Gilmour made the statement at the end of a recent three-day visit to Liberia as he announced the opening of a human rights office in the country.

“Although Liberia has made significant progress since the civil war ended in 2003, precarious human rights conditions have prompted the United Nations to open an office early 2018 to monitor and report on the situation,” Gilmour said.

The UN Human Rights Office in Liberia, Gilmour noted, will conduct human rights monitoring and reporting, as well as provide technical assistance to state institutions and other partners, including the Independent National Commission for Human Rights and civil society organizations.

He said the UN had already signed an agreement with the Liberian government. After commending the efforts of the government and people of Liberia, Gilmour noted that there was still a “vital need for the UN to continue our support.”

“What we have learned country after country is that neither peace nor development can be properly sustainable unless they are firmly grounded in human rights,” Gilmour said.

Gilmour also highlighted the primary role of the government in promoting and protecting human rights in Liberia.

“True peace is never possible if people feel that their desire for justice has not been met. Abominable war crimes were committed in this country, and the perpetrators of the worst crimes should now understand that justice will catch up with them,” the assistant secretary general stressed.

Underlining Liberia’s international human rights obligations, Gilmour expressed concern over the continued prevalence of female genital mutilation and urged the government to do far more within its power to discourage such and other harmful traditional practices, including trial by ordeal, accusations of witchcraft, and ritualistic killings.

He also discussed the plight of lesbian, gay, and transgendered people with Liberian government authorities, saying that their discrimination and abuse must be confronted. He also raised trepidations surrounding the rights of people with disabilities.

While acknowledging government efforts to address sexual violence, Gilmour stressed that the appalling frequency of rape in Liberia, including of young girls, is partly due to widespread impunity for this crime.

During the UN envoy’s visit, he met with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, cabinet ministers, several leaders of civil society organizations, and foreign ambassadors. Gilmour expressed appreciation to Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara, with whom he signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the new office.

Bartholomew B. Colley, the acting chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, described the initiative by the UN of establishing a human rights office in Liberia as laudable.

“There is a need to establish a human rights office in Liberia,” Colley said.

He explained that the office, when established, would work with local actors to address the heinous crimes carried out by some individuals during the civil war.

Bartholomew B. Colley, acting chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights. Photo: Zeze Ballah

According to Colley, the new office will be looking into some of the 207 recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into atrocities committed by some individuals during the civil war.

Colley also stressed that reparations for war victims whose relatives were killed and those still carrying bullets in their bodies need to be addressed.

Emmanuel S. Nyanti, a resident of Congo Town, told The Bush Chicken that some of the worst human rights abuses were committed during the civil war by individuals currently working in government with impunity.

He said Liberia will have trouble progressing if those who perpetrated the heinous crimes against innocent people are not brought to justice.

Emmanuel S. Nyanti supports the establishment of the new human rights office. Photo: Zeze Ballah

“The establishment of a human rights office in the country is beneficiary to all Liberians to know their rights from their wrongs,” he said, adding that there are individuals who “must account for the crimes committed during the civil war.”

Featured photo courtesy of the United Nations