Human Rights Advocacy Platform Takes The Lead With Britain’s Support
PHOTO: Participants and platform guests pose for a photo at the end of the deliberation
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia with funding from the British Embassy has officially launched a project aimed abolishing death penalty in the country.
Performing the official launching ceremony, the British Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Neil Bradley, re-affirmed the commitment of his government to the universal abolition of death penalty.
According to the British Ambassador, Liberia signatory to the second optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights requires the state to impose a moratorium on execution and amend its laws to eliminate death penalty.
“We have a long standing policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle, he said; adding: “we welcome the fact that the global trend towards the abolition of capital punishment continues in all pasts in the world.”
According to him three quarters of the states abolitionist, either in law or in practice.
“However,” Ambassador Breadley went on, “we should not be complacent in our collective efforts to abolish the death penalty; adding: “Last year, recorded global executions soared to their highest number in almost a decade.”
“We believe that its use undermines human dignity it neither makes communities safer nor serves as a deterrent to crime and it exacerbate cycles of violence and is often used as a lot of repression.”
In 2005, Liberia acceded to the second optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Ambassador Breadley said under this protocol, Liberia was required to impose a moratorium on executions and amend its laws eliminate the death penalty.
“Through consultation and engagement with stakeholders, project aims to increase public support for the abolition of the death penalty and identify a pathway for Liberia’s ratification and domestication of the protocol”
“The longer term real world difference will be no further prisoners sentenced to the death penalty and greater public support for non-violent punishment of crimes.”
According to him responding to a crime no matter how heinous by committing another crime should never to the solution and any miscarriage of justice leading to the imposition of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable
Speaking during the launching ceremony, the chairman of the board of directors of the platform, Reverend Francis Kollie, said there is growing consensus for universal abolition of death penalty and torture as such it is the right time for Liberia to join the rest of the world for the abolishment of these two cruel anti-human rights acts
Reverend Kollie disclosed that 12 persons who are currently detained at the various prisons, are on death role.
He pointed out that the Liberian government and the CSOs to use collective approach to eradicate inhumane treatment and return of victims who were allegedly tortured in the past
“Torture and death penalty should be totally unacceptable under the laws of Liberia and our country’s judicial system should frown at these inhumane practices just like any other civilized countries around the world: he said; adding: “our past effort to combat torture and death penalty send an indication that Liberia is strengthening human rights and justice for all Liberians and other nationals from diverse backgrounds to promote dignity, accountability and a country free of torture.”
“However,” he went on, “globally, human rights are considered as a key cornerstone for a peaceful world to ensure timely redress and change, inclusion of different human rights groups to strengthen human rights advocacy and solidarity.”
“The significance of this human rights campaign aims at enhancing the promotion of fair and inclusive society cannot be overemphasized to ensure the right to life is upheld.”
The ceremony, which was held at a local hotel, was graced by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, the French Embassy, the European Union, the West African regional organization, ECOWAS, civil society organizations, among many others.