A consortium of Civil Society Organization in Liberia, the Human Right Platform has expressed its determination to intensify advocacy in the areas of human rights violations and monitoring across the country .
Mr. Adama Dempster, Secretary General of the organization said at a three- day retreat in the second city of Buchanan that they were supported by the United Nations Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR).
He told Journalists that they have gathered to formulate plans of action to implement a robust monitoring on issues of protests, peace and security including the national budget of the government.
Mr. Dempster said the rights CSOs will institute an intensive monitoring advocacy program that will focus on those basic international human rights principles and standers, to ensure that it is being observed by the government.
As part of the organization’s efforts to review its overall programs with members across the country, he reported that the leadership along with its partner was able to organize a retreat.
Mr. Dempster said participants were able to formulate new action plans that will coordinate with partners and the government through the Independent National commission on Human Right (INCHR) and OCHR for 2020 with the objective of intensifying their advocacy and monitoring on those basic rights that included health , peace and security , education and economic.
The Liberian rights advocate said it is the right of citizens to peacefully protest under the international laws but with a responsibility for the organizers of such protest to fully inform the public on their activities relating to their protest .
It is also the government’s responsibility to provide security for the protesters in line with international protocols on human rights, Mr. Dempster said.
Board Chairman of the Civil Society Organization On Human Right Platform Rev. Frances Kollie said in 2020 the civil society on human rights will hold people and government accountable on those human rights abuses with in the border of the country.
He said holding people accountable for human rights violation need a collective efforts adding that “one voice cannot make a change, it is the organization objective to strengthen our force in the fright to protect human rights in line with best international principles.”
Rev. Kollie said CSOs will ensure that those human rights violations will no long be kept under the carpet but given justice.
He the right CSOs will not relent in unearthing those human rights abuses and ensuring that they are address in line with the rule of law, among other things. Report by Mark Menginfia