THIS CONTENT HAS BEEN ARCHIVED

EU Annual Human Rights Report: Liberia country update

30.05.2018
Teaser

Human rights are at the heart of the European Union's external action and the EU reaffirms its role as a leading global proponent of the promotion and protection of human rights. On 28 May 2018, the Council adopted the EU's annual report on human rights and democracy in the world in 2017.

Text

 

You will find the country update for Liberia below.  More information and the full report can be found at:

https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/human-rights-and-democracy/45305/human-rights-and-democracy-world-heart-eu%E2%80%99s-external-action_en

 

 

Liberia

14 years after the end of the civil conflict, considerable challenges and abuses persist. Lack of resources hampers the enforcement of legislation intended to protect human rights, while in other areas there is a reluctance to challenge traditional practices and attitudes that violate human rights. Corruption and misuse of power is pervasive across all branches of government and at all levels. 2017 saw progress in some areas of human rights and democracy, while in others the situation remained stationary or even went backwards. 

Good governance, including support for the electoral process, is a focal sector for the "National Indicative Programme", which is the basis of cooperation agreed with the Government of Liberia until 2020. The EU continues to engage actively on human rights, including through the formal EU-Liberia political dialogue and activities around international human rights days. Practical support to address human rights concerns is provided by both the EU and Member States, with specific projects in areas including women's rights, children's rights and the justice sector.

Above all, the peaceful conduct of the 2017 Presidential and legislative elections has demonstrated respect for democracy and rule of law. At the same time, almost all Presidential candidates committed themselves to maintaining legislation criminalising homosexuality and the Senate took advantage of the campaign period to try and pass legislation weakening the Rape Law.  The removal of provisions on FGM from the Domestic Violence Law showed a similar lack of concern for women's rights and empowerment.  Abolition of the death penalty, enforcement of legislation against child labour and exploitation and improved access to justice, health and education remain concerns, as do poor prison conditions and questions regarding the government's commitment to manage Liberia's significant natural resources in a way which respects the rights of local communities. Both Freedom House's Freedom Rating and the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index rank Liberia above the Sub-Saharan average and better than many of its neighbours. However, the Democracy Index's extremely low rating for "functioning of government" (0.8 on a 0–10 scale) is an indication of the problems below this positive surface. Issues of capacity, corruption and concentration of power continue to hamper the government's ability to effectively respond to the needs and expectations of the people.

The EU is providing support to Liberia's National Elections Commission (NEC) and the electoral cycle, using UNDP as an implementing partner.  A significant proportion of this programme has gone directly towards the costs of the 2017 elections, with several EU Member States providing additional support to the election budget. Support is also provided to meet the NEC's long term capacity needs and for engagement with the media and civil society around the electoral process.  Recommendations from the EU Election Observation Mission will be taken into account in planning for the remainder of the programme.

The Liberia National Police (LNP) has shown noteworthy improvements, earning praise from all political parties for its role in the election process, including management of campaign rallies. The LNP has also demonstrated a commitment to accountability by taking action against a number of its personnel for acts of violence or abuse of power.  Passage of the Domestic Violence Act has increased protection for women, even if it was only achieved after the removal of relatively mild provisions on FGM.

Sexual and gender based violence continues to be a major challenge for Liberia, as does addressing the shortfalls in the justice system, including the poor prison conditions that result from large numbers of pre-trial detainees. Democratic institutions need to be strengthened and domestic civil society supported to ensure there is both a demand for accountability and good governance and the capacity to deliver.

Human Rights dialogue with Liberia is carried out as part of the annual EU-Liberia Article 8 Political Dialogue. Topics raised in 2017 included FGM and gender-based violence, abolition of the death penalty, prison conditions, freedom of the press (decriminalisation of violations of freedom of expression) and the need to deliver on anti-corruption promises. There was also substantive discussion of the electoral process, including the need for a successful administrative handover.  Liberia continued to vote along similar lines to the EU on human rights priorities at the United Nations.  In response to a request from the Liberian Government the EU deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM).  Statements made by the EU EOM and other observers were referred to in the Supreme Court's judgement on a complaint brought by two political parties following the first round of the elections.  The EU Delegation and resident Member States also issued a statement which contributed to public debate on the importance of a peaceful and proportionate response to electoral concerns.

Liberia's constitution protects freedom of expression and the environment for human rights defenders in Liberia is generally benign, although there are incidents of individual harassment and abuse of power by public officials who feel directly threatened by the activities of a specific HRDs. Groups advocating for LGBTI rights are particularly vulnerable to harassment and at their request the Delegation and Member States have offered public expressions of support  and safe venues for meetings and activities.  During 2017, the EU Delegation also maintained close contact with a HRD who attracted attention for his role in the arrest and prosecution overseas of Liberians responsible for war crimes during the two civil wars.

In 2017 the EU funded four projects in Liberia via the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). A new project implemented by ActionAid to prevent gender based violence and reduce harmful traditional practices, including FGM was initiated following the end of our previous project. In the project that ended in June 2017, ActionAid proved to be successful in generating greater willingness to discuss these sensitive issues in Grand Bassa and Rivercess counties and the new project offers the possibility of expanding their work into other parts of Liberia. The new project aims to improve community based protection mechanisms for reducing sexual violence and other forms of SGBV affecting women, girls and sexual minorities across eight communities in Margibi, Gbarpolu and Montserrado counties.

Two projects addressing accountability in the security sector continued.  The Carter Center is working with key security and justice institutions to increase their awareness of Freedom of Information and transparency obligations and their ability to respond to requests from citizens while International Alert is working with CSOs to promote inclusive participation of people in defending their rights and strengthening police-citizen relations. Both these projects continue to have positive results with feedback from both communities and police that understanding on both sides has increased.

A project aimed at improving access to justice through enhancing local capacities to provide gender sensitive legal support and protection of prisoner’s rights in Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties started in January 2017. This project, implemented by FinnChurchAid, pays particular attention to the right of legal support of pre-trial detainees. Small scale funding was also used to support an event organised by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights to celebrate International Human Rights Day and a film screening was organised for International Women's Day. The EU's €10 million project to support the electoral cycle played an important role in ensuring the 2017 elections were free, fair and violence free.

Liberia has ratified the main international human rights instruments, but a number of these are yet to be integrated into domestic law. It underwent its second Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council in May 2015.  The Ministry of Justice is leading the process to follow up on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations.  In 2017 the government continued to take steps to address its backlog of reporting on human rights instruments, supported by UNMIL/UNDP.

Category
Factsheets
Location

Bruxelles

Editorial sections
Liberia
Africa