Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) President Prof. Cllr. F. Juah Lawson is expected to highlight the suffering of children during Liberia’s civil war and call for greater accountability for crimes against them at an international legal forum in New York on October 28.
Lawson will speak at a high-level event titled “Advancing Accountability for International Crimes Against Children,” hosted by the African Union during International Law Week 2026.
The meeting will bring together government officials, lawyers, international organizations and child rights advocates to discuss how children affected by armed conflict can obtain justice and protection.
Lawson is expected to draw on Liberia’s experience during its 14-year civil conflict, when many children were recruited by armed groups, forced into fighting and subjected to other forms of abuse and exploitation.
She will discuss the need for stronger national laws, effective courts and international cooperation to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes against children are held accountable.
The meeting will also examine how a proposed international convention on crimes against humanity could strengthen legal protection for children and help bring perpetrators to justice.
Speaking ahead of the event, Lawson said Liberia’s history showed why children must not be forgotten when countries address the consequences of war.
“Liberia’s history reminds us that children are among the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict. Their suffering must never be overlooked, and justice must extend beyond recognition of their experiences to meaningful accountability, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” she said.
Lawson added that protecting children required strong laws, functioning courts and a commitment from governments to ensure that victims receive justice and the support they need to rebuild their lives.
LNBA renews call for War and Economic Crimes Court
Lawson is also expected to use the meeting to renew the LNBA’s call for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The proposed court is intended to address serious crimes committed during the country’s civil wars. Many victims and survivors have spent years calling for those responsible to face justice.
The LNBA has maintained that establishing the court is an important step toward addressing impunity and ensuring that the suffering of victims, including children, is not ignored.
Children who were recruited into armed groups or suffered other abuses during the wars remain part of Liberia’s painful history. For many victims and their families, holding those responsible accountable remains an important part of the search for justice.
Lawson said the association would continue to push for the court’s establishment, promote respect for human rights and support reforms to strengthen Liberia’s justice system.
She thanked the African Union and other organizers for inviting the LNBA to take part in the discussions, saying the meeting would give Liberia’s legal community an opportunity to share its experience and learn from other countries.
The October 28 event will place Liberia’s experience among wider discussions about how national governments and international institutions can better protect children during armed conflicts and ensure that serious crimes against them do not go unpunished.
