The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) is calling on the Government of Liberia to take immediate and concrete steps to address persistent and serious human rights violations highlighted in the recently published 2024 U.S. Country Report on Human Rights Practices for Liberia.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the LNBA expressed deep concern that the report once again chronicles a disturbing pattern of abuses, with no significant improvements recorded over the past year.
Among the key violations documented in the U.S. report are:
Arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings
Torture and other inhumane or degrading treatment
Harsh and life-threatening prison conditions
Political interference in the judiciary
Restrictions on press freedom and harassment of journalists
Systemic government corruption
Gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices, including female genital mutilation
Discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals
Restrictions on labor rights and freedom of association
The LNBA criticized the Liberian government’s consistent failure to investigate and prosecute officials implicated in these abuses, citing a dangerous culture of impunity that threatens the nation’s democratic progress and undermines public trust in institutions.
“This continued pattern of impunity undermines the rule of law and violates Liberia’s obligations under both domestic and international law,” the LNBA stated.
In response, the Bar Association issued a six-point call to action urging the government to:
Prosecute all alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses, regardless of their political standing;
Reinforce judicial independence and insulate the courts from political pressure;
Improve prison conditions to meet international standards;
Safeguard freedom of the press and protect journalists from reprisals;
Take strong, transparent action against corruption; and
Implement wide-ranging reforms to combat gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination.
Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, National President of the LNBA, emphasized that Liberia’s democratic foundations remain fragile if human rights are continuously sidelined.
“Liberia’s democratic progress cannot be sustained if serious human rights violations are ignored year after year,” said Cllr. Varmah. “We must break the cycle of impunity and build a justice system that commands the trust of every Liberian.”
The LNBA reiterated its commitment to partnering with civil society, international bodies, and government institutions in the fight for justice and human rights.
