The New Dawn (Monrovia)
Winston W. Parley
8 December 2011
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) and other rights groups here have called on government to muster necessary will power to address the current waves of human rights concerns, including challenges of sexual gender-based violence, rape, ethnic tensions, discrimination, and inequality of economic opportunities, among others.
Commissioner James D. Torh of the INCHR told reporters at UNMIL press briefing Wednesday that during the cycle of despairs in Liberia, chaos, anarchy and flagrant human rights abuse and violations consumed the country for over a decade.
Against that background, Torh said what was wrong yesterday is never right today. He urged the government to reaffirm and strengthen its commitment to work for change by demonstrating that the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are not theoretical or abstract.
Also speaking at the news conference, Adama Dempster, who represented the civil society said, government still needs to do much in addressing human rights issues, citing mob violence, domestic violence, rape and lack of access to justice.
Dempster said though government has been making efforts over the years, it still faces the challenge of addressing pre-trial detention situations, thus causing congestions at prisons throughout the country.
He said in many cases, once people are arrested and detained by police, they are highly investigated, charged and transferred to court for prosecution. He noted that such practice violates the rights of accused individuals.
Dempster further expressed dismay over the unfortunate November 7, 2011 deadly standoff between armed police officers and protesters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that reportedly caused at least one death.
He frowned on the CDC for illegally taking into the street in violation of the rights of others, but said the police should not have shot at armless civilians in dispersing rioters.
Other speakers including Eugene Nindorera, who represented UNMIL and the UN High Commission for Human Rights in Liberia, said the police have made a lot of progress on human rights situation, but said it was unacceptable for the police to shoot at civilians.
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