A group of civil society organizations under the banner: Liberia Civil Society Initiative for Transitional Justice has ended a daylong engagement meeting in Monrovia.
Hosted by one of its key network members, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFFEL), the initiative brought together heads and officials of the office of the establishment of war and economic crimes court in Liberia (OWECC), including network members.
AFELL is part of the dignity consortium comprising Community Healthcare Initiative and Liberia Association of Psychosocial services.
This group coordinates a network of civil society organizations that are into transitional justice and accountability issues.
At the opening session, Cllr. Evelyn Lah Gongloe said, the meeting was meant to build relationships with the office of the country’s War and Economic Crimes Court.
The female lawyer said issues of transitional justice and accountability for past crimes are critical to achieving lasting peace in the country.
She meanwhile encouraged those in the sector to critically examine indicators that may have served as a barrier to achieving their aims and objectives.
Madam Gongloe then commended Dignity for providing funding for the meeting. She also expressed the appreciation for Irish Embassy in Monrovia headed by Ambassador Gerard Considine for support to AFELL.
Cllr. Jallah Barbu, Executive Director for the office of the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court, hailed AFELL and advocates in general for their contributions to the society.
He described advocacy as a difficult terrain characterized by ‘all sorts of risks’ with visible and invisibles.
The learned lawyers acknowledged those in the fight for their courageous tasks over the period.
He also challenged major actors and Liberians in general to take an ownership approach for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in the country.
“We need to work harder more than ever before to the process that leads to the establishment of the court. This includes the anti-corruption court,” re-emphasized.
Barbu informed the gathering that the Office of the Establishment of EWECC is not just a structure, but a system which is an integral part of the transitional justice system relays upon.
The one day acquaintance meeting which brought together transitional justice actors from different CSOs ended with the direct actors committing to working together to promote and advocate effectively for transitional justice actors in the country.