Human Rights 75 Campaign, an initiative that seeks to increase knowledge of the universality and indivisibility of human rights and empower people to fight for their rights, especially among young people, has been launched in Liberia.
The campaign, which commemorates the 75th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), was launched at the Monrovia City Hall on Monday, April 24, 2023, and focuses on Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which emphasizes the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Addressing the keynote speech at the launch, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General (AG) of the Republic of Liberia, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, Jr., said as duty bearer to protect and fulfill these rights, the Government of Liberia (GOL) established a steering committee in 2006 to draft a National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) to ensure that the civil and political rights of citizens are protected.
Minister Dean said the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights are enhanced so that Liberia fulfills its international human rights treaty obligations and, as such, the rights of vulnerable populations are promoted and respected and human rights awareness is assured.
According to him, the first version of the NHRAP was adopted by the government in 2013 for the year period ranging from 2013 to 2018, and a revised version was adopted in December for the period from 2019 to 2024. He said since then enormous strides have been made in these areas; notwithstanding, much remains to be done.
The Justice Minister said, in order to enhance the enjoyment of free speech and opinion, the government in 2018 received the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Minister Dean stated that the bill amended Chapter 11 of the Penal Law of 1978, repealing Section 11.11 on criminal libel against the president, 11.12 on sedition and 11.14 on criminal malevolence, which led to the passage into law of the Kamara Abdullah Kamara (KAK) act on February 28, 2019. “This act promotes free speech, expression independence and the safety of the Liberian press,” he said.
At the same time, the UN Resident Coordinator, Christine N. Umutoni, said the UDHR enshrined the fundamental rights and freedom inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality and any other status.
According to Umutoni, the UDHR has advanced human rights and become recognized and more guaranteed in constitution and law of the countries, making it more relevant; however, its promise of dignity and equality in rights has been under a sustained assault in recent years.
Reflecting on the progress made in Liberia and globally in advancing human rights since the adoption of the UDHR, she said significant achievements and steps have been taken towards promoting and protecting human rights, including legal and policy reforms, institutional strengthening and awareness raising efforts.