The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Liberia on Wednesday September 25, 2024 hosted a one day dialogue aimed at strengthening stronger national and regional collaboration for enhanced Human Rights advocacy and the Fight against corruption.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Country Representative of the OHCHR Christian Mukosa said corruption creates instability and insecurity as such needs to be addressed within the region and beyond.
According to him, corruption was one of the causes of instability in the region nothing that it is time for human rights based approach towards the fight against corruption.
Mr. Mukosa warned that if not addressed , corruption has the propensity to jeapodise the future of the nation.
He said responses from corruption fight can also help promote human rights as such support to human rights is key.
The OHCHR boss who also hailed the Countries for establishing commissions on human rights and anti graphs institutions was quick to call for support to these institutions and commissions in order to further enhance their works and activities.
Outlining some of the negative impacts of corruption was the United Nations Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni who underscored the importance of strengthening regional machanism to provide redress for victims and for accountability for human rights violations including economic and social rights.
Speaking further she stressed that corruption affects the entire national development initiatives and also hampers economic growth and development.
Madam Umutoni at the same time encouraged accountability and regional collaboration which she noted is key to the fight against corruption and human rights violations respectively.
Motivating the gathering, she pointed out that despite the danger associated with corruption, it can be tackle once the parties and actors remain united and work together with accountability been their cornerstone to achieving such milestone.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening session was the Minister of Justice Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh who wants strategies to be derived in order to combat corruption as well as reinforcing human rights for all.
He indicated further that it is timely for them to take on the opportunity now in a drive to battle the manace from the region.
“Let’s be champions of justice and go behind just compliance but courageous commitment and integrity and accountability”, he added.
Cllr. Tweh stated that the dialogue creates the opportunity for the two Countries to exchange best practices and experience which he pointed out is a fundamental to help empower them for corruption fight including enhancing advocacies.
Representing the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission at the regional dialogue was its Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe who wants the discussions to be transformed into catalysts of real action.
She told the gathering that the dialogue which came as a result of the May meeting in Sierra-Leone is significant to the two Countries.
She used the ocassion to commit to fostering tangible corporation between their institutions.
“Let’s also focus on aligning our policy with international standards, strengthening the regional framework that binds us”, she noted.
Cllr. Zoe also calls for the empowerment of the people to stand against corruption and demand their fundamental human rights.
At the same time , the Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights Cllr. T. Dempster Brown encouraged his colleagues to do more in order to fight corruption and human rights violations respectively.
“The impacts of corruption and human rights violations on our people are scaring as such, we all need to do more to tackle it”, he re-emphasized.
Making reference to the ongoing debate for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court in Liberia, Cllr. Brown reechoed the need for such court to be established in Liberia in order for those in his words who committed atrocities on innocent citizens to face justice and or be published for their actions.
As for the Deputy Chairperson of the Anti Corruption Commission of Sierra-Leone, Augustine Foday Ngobie pledged their support and collaboration to the process.
“We share similar story and we will encourage both Political and Presidential will in order to fight corruption and human rights violations”, he added.
Meanwhile, the dialogue among other things is expected to come out with key recommendations in order to address the challenges of corruption and human rights violations in the region.
