26 June 1945, San Francisco. 10 December 1948, New York. 16 December 1966, New York. York. York

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1 LIBERIA I- Normative Framework A. Synoptic Tables of major international, regional and sub-regional agreements and conventions on human rights CONVENTIONS, PROTOCOLS AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS N Denominations of Conventions Date and Place of adoption Ratification by Liberia 1 United Nations Charter, June 26, 1945, San Francisco 2 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December June 1945, San Francisco 10 December 1948, New 3 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 4 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 5 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 6 United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development 7 the Child 8 Optional Protocol to the the Child, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (UN) 9 Optional Protocol to the the Child, on the involvement of children in armed conflict (UN) 10 Persons with Disabilities 11 Optional Protocol to the Persons with Disabilities 12 Convention on the Prevention and Suppression of the Crime of Genocide (s) 4 December 1986, New 20 November 1989, New 4 June May 2000, New 25 May 2000, New 13 December 2006, New 13 December 2006, New 9 December 1948, New 26 July March 2007 (s) 09 June Convention for the 21 March 1950, New 21 March 1950

2 Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (UN) 14 International Convention for the Protection of all persons against Enforced Disappearances 15 Convention on the Political Rights of Women (UN) 16 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (UN) 17 Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and of Members of their Families (UN) 18 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (UN) 19 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 20 Rio + 20 on Sustainable Development 21 Resolution 2151 of the UN Security Council (unanimously adopted ) 20 December 2006, New 20 December 1952, New 18 December 1979, New 18 December 1990, New 30 December 1973, New (s) 9 December July 1984 (a) 5 November 1976 (a) 9 May November June AFRICAN UNION AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS N Denominations of Conventions Date and Place of adoption Ratification by Liberia 1 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights 2 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 11 July 1990 Addis Ababa 3 Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights establishing the African Court on Human Rights and Peoples 4 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women 27 June 1981, Nairobi 11 July 1990, in Addis Ababa 9 June 1998, Ouagadougou 11 July 2003, Maputo 4 August st August December 2007

3 5 OAU Convention on Specific Aspects 20 June 1974 of Refugee Problems in Africa 6 AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, 11 July 2003 Maputo 7 Creation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in January Reform of the AU Security Sector African Youth Charter 2 July May Charter of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union 11 African Charter on Governance, Elections and Democracy 25 May 1963/11 July 2000 January February June 2008 (s) ECOWAS TREATIES AND PROTOCOLS ON HUMAN RIGHTS N Denominations of Conventions Date and Place of adoption Ratification by Liberia 1 ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods and people 2 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 29 May December Protocol establishing the ECOWAS Common Court of Justice 28 May 1975 = Ratification (a) = Membership (Ap) = Approval (s) = Declaration of succession B. Analysis of the tables Liberia has signed or ratified almost all international legal instruments on human rights or has acceded to them. However, progress is hampered at regional level because Liberia, as part of the African Union and ECOWAS, has adopted all the conventions and treaties but has not ratified most of them. They are as follows: the Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights establishing the African Court for Human and Peoples Rights, the OAU Convention on the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the AU

4 Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption of 11 July 2003 Maputo, the creation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), January 2001, AU Security Sector Reform, ECOWAS Protocol on free movement of goods and persons, the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the Protocol establishing the ECOWAS Court of Justice. II- Internal arrangement and implementation mechanisms A. Internal normative mechanism Internally, Chapter III of the Liberian Constitution is the foundation for the promotion and protection of human rights. The country has also developed important programs in this direction. They include, among others, the free and compulsory primary education programme of basic education for all and an education outside school programme. The program addresses concepts such as responsibility for human rights, peace and humanitarian law, a sense of nation and other similar concepts. B. Implementation Mechanisms Furthermore, implementation and monitoring of international and regional human rights obligations are done by non-state actors including: the Independent National Human Rights Commission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, civil society organisations; the a Governance Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Land Commission have recently been created. III- Challenges and Opportunities Since the 1980s, Liberia has experienced several rebellions and civil wars that have had a negative impact on human rights. These confrontations continued until 2005 after the arrest of several politicians, series of rapes and acts of violence against women and girls, as well as the training of child soldiers. It is to be emphasised that the situation in Liberia is not the best in terms of human rights. Despite her commitment to improve the human rights situation of citizens, Liberia still faces many challenges. Lack of awareness of human rights in vast sectors of society; Significant levels of illiteracy and unemployment; Lack of trained and qualified workforce; Inexistent or severely damaged infrastructural projects or equipment (electricity, water, roads, health and medical facilities, schools, courthouses, police stations, prisons...) Severely degraded means of livelihood, especially in agriculture; Family and community structures that have been destroyed; Socio-cultural perceptions and practices; Double judicial apparatus; Persistence of discriminatory laws;

5 Culture of impunity and corruption; Distrust of justice and law enforcement, hence the use of street justice; Delays in application of regional and international human rights conventions; Inadequate financial resources for the scale of projects essential for human rights...