Independent Human Rights Investigators Launches Project -To Promote Justice, Accountability & Reparation For War Victims In Liberia

“Silence has not changed anything, we have to speak out and speak out loud enough“, said Adama Dempster, founder of the Independent Human Rights Investigators.

Speaking at the launch of an eight-month project under the theme: “Promoting Justice, Accountability and Reparation for war victims in Liberia” on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 in Gbarnga City Bong County, Mr. Dempster wondered why people justify their wrong doing while others live with the scars as a result of the civil conflict in the Country.

“We have come to promote the interest of the citizens that were affected by the war,” the IHRI boss pointed out.

According to him, it is about time that people do away with “cover up” especially for people who committed heinous crimes in the society.

He argued that in the wake  of the establishment of war and economic crimes court in Liberia, what becomes of the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report mainly with emphasis on Reparation.

 “Reparation is very key and it will make people take deep breath after feeling the pinch as a result of the war,” the Human Rights advocate added.

He named the payment of free hospitals for war victims, business empowerment for those who were directly affected as a result of the war, rebuilding of their homes and many others as areas directly reparation should address and many more if fully implemented by national government.

Also speaking at the program was Devine Togbah, Director of Human Rights Protection at the Ministry of Justice who noted that government attaches seriousness to human rights issues in Liberia.

Togbah noted that government’s action, especially with the work of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, with focus on the implementation of the TRC report, is being worked on to the core.

At the same time, the human rights officer in Bong County at the INCHR, Fatu Bility, praised the Independent Human Rights Investigators for the initiative which is part of their core functions.

She encouraged participants to make maximum use of the training for the benefit of the nation and its people.

The eight-month project, which will be extended to Grand Bassa County, among others, is sponsored by the African Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) and seeks to provide awareness, training, building on educational and radio programs as well as working with youths, women and religious groups including victims of the war.

The ATJLF is a three-year grand making initiative that seeks to support community based survivor led transitional justice projects in seven West African Countries.

The fund was established by the MacArthur Foundation and another US-Based private foundation to also provide transformative and impactful interventions in transitional justice processes in Africa.

Additionally, it will help further empower 1,000 citizens and war victims in Bong and Grand Bassa Counties on concept and mechanisms of justice and accountability in engaging national stakeholders including local authorities, legislators and the media for the establishment of war and economic crimes court in Liberia.