LNBA Welcomes New U.S. Ambassador To Liberia By: Yassah J Wright

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The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has welcomed and congratulated the newly accredited U.S Ambassador, Mark C. Toner, describing his appointment by President Joe Biden, as critical to improving the traditional relationship between Liberia and the United States. The Bar made the statement at a recent Transitional Justice stakeholders’ roundtable lunch hosted in its honor and other Transitional Justice stakeholders by the new U.S. Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia.  LNBA President Sylvester D. Rennie said  the Bar and  U. S Ambassador Toner have  seriously emphasized the  importance  of Liberia rule of law program and promised to support mechanisms for the  establishment of the much talked  about War and Economic Crimes Court which is intended to bring accountably and closure to war era atrocities after over twenty  years of civil hostility, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). LNBA President Rennie noted that recent lunch meeting hosted by Ambassador Toner in honor of the LNBA and other Transitional Justice actors was intended for  acquaintance and to elevate  serious conversation about the role of the Bar and relevant civil society organizations in complementing the political will of the Boakai’s government in addressing transitional justice issues; such as the establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court. Cllr. Rennie stated that Ambassador Toner reaffirmed the U.S Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Bar and relevant institutions to address challenges to the rule of law, accountability and government in Liberia.  He further said the Bar maintained that rule of law is central to the U.S. approach to promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies in line with democratic institutions.  The Bar President also reminded Ambassador Toner that access to legal services remains critical to poverty reduction, gender equity sustainable growth and development in Liberia. He also noted that the Bar access to justice guarantees the respect for all and protection for human rights in any democratic nation. The LNBA President, in a related development, said the Bar commended the United Nations Peace Building Commission, configuration for convening a meeting focusing on transitional justice and youth, peace and security on August 19,2024, in New York, United States of America. Cllr. Rennie further said the configuration chaired by Sweden through its Ambassador to the UN, hosted the meeting to provide an opportunity to discuss Liberia peace building and sustaining peace priorities, including support to the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court and the national action plan on youths’ peace and security. He said the meeting also sought to identify concrete areas and ways on how the international community can support Liberia’s peace building and sustaining peace efforts, particularly transitional justice and peace building.

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