On Friday, December 20, 2024, the Juvenile Court of Liberia saturated at the Temple of Justice, dedicated a Child-Friendly Court. Giving overview of the court, Her Honor Lucrezia Thomas Anderson said a Child-Friendly Juvenile Court helps reduce stress and anxiety for children navigating the legal system, prioritizing the child’s comfort, well-being and emotional security during a challenging and often unfamiliar process and most importantly upholding their rights. Judge Anderson stated that for the past years serving as judge to the Juvenile Court, nothing has been done when it comes to the protection of children. “People don’t take children issues seriously, for the past years serving as judge, I can’t see anything when it comes to the protection of children from the Juvenile Court perspective.” Judge Anderson said the court has issues; adding that when the civil war came, children issues were put aside. She noted that the Juvenile Court established in 1972 under the Judiciary Law (Title 17, Liberian Code of Laws Revised, Chapter 10), was a milestone for Liberia. It was originally designed as a regular adult court, and its infrastructure and processes were not tailored to the unique requirements of juvenile justice. Juvenile Judge Anderson stressed that the court has since operated under the Juvenile Procedural Code of 1972, the Children’s Law of 2011, and the Penal Code of Liberia According to her, though the court was working but not actively working until recently by bringing in visibility to the court through the support of UNICEF. The Judge said the Juvenile Court System is currently undergoing a transformation to become a more child’s friendly court, as the process creates a justice system that is more responsive to the needs and rights of children. Judge Anderson mentioned that in the early years of establishment the juvenile court operated with little resources and during the Liberian civil war the functions of the court was disrupted; following the end of the second civil war there was an end to revitalize as it strengths the Juvenile Court System which included the legal framework, training judicial officers, establishing delegated facilities. She added that since 2024 to present there’s has been a gradual improvement in the juvenile justice system with increase focus on child’s rights and rehabilitation with support from various international organizations to UNICEF, UN, Don Bosco, UNDP and Save the Children have provided support to strengthen the Juvenile Justin System over the years. Judge Anderson noted that there has been a conceited effort to transform the Juvenile Court into Child’s-Friendly Court, focusing on creating a more supportive and less intimidating environment for children. The Juvenile Court Judge stated that the current emphasis is on rehabilitation, alternative to detention, involvement of social workers, phycologists and specialized training for court personnel. “The court through the judiciary has been working with UNICEF over a period of time and it is because of UNICEF we are here today,” she said. Dedicating the Child-Friendly Court Andrew Brooks Representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said his institution has for over five years, partnered with the Government of Liberia to strengthen the justice system for children, achieving significant progress in addressing the needs of children in conflict and contact with the law. Brooks said despite the foundational gains, critical gaps remain; as the CRC Committee of 2012 emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Liberia’s formal child justice system and ensure child-sensitive justice procedures. Similarly, the CEDAW Committee of 2015 called on Liberia to establish mechanisms and programs for child victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Responding Brooks said, UNICEF Liberia and the Ministry of Justice undertook the ‘Study on the Child Justice System in Liberia’ to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement, for which the collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to building a justice system that protects and upholds the rights of all children, aligning with national and international standards. According to him, UNICEF support has made significant strides in transforming the Juvenile Court into a child-friendly institution. He outlined some of the support as refurbishment of Infrastructure, enhanced facilities such as the courtroom, judge’s office, probation officers’ offices, records room, Child-friendly reading room equipped with books, a TV, a conference table, and chairs. Also, UNICEF gives provision of equipment supplies furniture, computers, printers, and motorbikes to improve the operational efficiency of probation officers and court staff. In strengthening the justice systems, Brooks on behalf of his institution supported the conduct of a child justice study and the development of a comprehensive Child Justice Strategy, as these efforts led to tangible improvements in case management and access to justice for over 200 children in 2024, including child offenders, victims, and abandoned or neglected children; a total of 200 children benefitted from access to justice through the juvenile court with support from UNICEF. For her part, Felicia Ubbesen, Political Officer at the Swedish Embassy, on behalf said the official opening of the Child-Friendly Juvenile Court in Montserrado County, as well as the launch of the Child Justice Study Report and the Child Justice Strategy/Roadmap, celebrated the completion of the first phase for making the juvenile court system more child-friendly. Ubbesen, according to her said it is a significant milestone which reflects the collective commitment to ensuring that every child in Liberia has access to a justice system that is not only fair but also compassionate and supportive. Since its establishment in 1972, the Juvenile Court has played a crucial role in providing justice for children. However, the Swedish Embassy recognized that the journey through the legal system can be daunting for young individuals, by making the court more child-friendly, the Embassy aimed to reduce the stress and anxiety that children may experience, prioritizing their well-being in line with the convention of the Child. She mentioned that the Child-friendly courts are not only beneficial for the child, but for justice itself as it helps children understand legal proceedings and feel comfortable participating, which is crucial for fair and just outcomes to increase trust in the legal system. “Today, we also celebrate the launch of the Child Justice Study Report and the Child Justice Strategy/Roadmap. These documents, commissioned by UNICEF with Swedish support, will serve as vital tools in guiding our efforts to further enhance the child justice system in Liberia,” said Ubbesen. Speaking on behalf of the Judiciary, Cllr. Moses S. Soribeh welcomed the ceremony and thanked the partners for the milestone terming it as a testament to the collective commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of children in Liberia. The Judiciary, in partnership with UNICEF, has leveraged the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute to conduct numerous training sessions for magistrates across Liberia. Cllr. Soribeh stated that the training sessions focused on Child Justice and the implementation of the Juvenile Court Procedural Code; despite these efforts, recent statistics have highlighted an alarming increase in the number of juveniles being incarcerated nationwide. “This troubling trend prompted a critical response. From June 1 to June 8, 2024, a Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Team, comprising members of the Child Justice Section at the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary, represented by the Judicial Institute, visited Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount Counties. These visits aimed to engage judges, magistrates, and other justice actors in discussions to identify and implement interventions to reduce juvenile incarceration….we saw a significant reduction in the number of juveniles imprisoned across the country by August 2024. Emphasis was placed on the six counties visited, resulting in the release of over 20 juveniles from various detention facilities,” he stated.
He Indicated that the court is designed to reduce the trauma faced by children involved in the justice system and to provide an environment that upholds their dignity and rights; adding that it is a symbol of hope, progress, and the unwavering commitment to justice for all.
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