Cllr. Jallah Barbu Says The Court Won’t Only Focus On Just Prosecute And Jailing People Suspected Of War Crimes
PHOTO: Members of the NUOD in group with Cllr. Jallah Barbu and other dignitaries
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia says the tribunal to be set up will not only focus on just to prosecute and jail people suspected of war crimes, but will also seek redress for victims.
Thousands of people were wounded, many of them permanently disabled, in the 14 years of civil war which officially ended in August 2023. But to date, they have not benefitted for reparation in line with the Truth and Reparation Commission (TRC) report.
The Executive Director of the office, Counselor Jallah Barbu, disclosed that it is transitional justice process which, will also take into account seeking redress for victims of the war.
Counselor Barbu made the disclosure at the dedication of the newly acquired headquarters of the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled located in Monrovia during the weekend.
According to Counselor Barbu, the office is currently drafting a legislation to the national legislature that will take in to consideration all sectors of the Liberian society.
“Thousands of people have suffered and got in some situations as a result of the war and they wouldn’t have gotten in those conditions if it were not the wars,” he said; adding: “the law we are drafting will take all those in to account.”
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency, Josiah Joekai, has called on heads of ministries, agencies, commissions and bureaus of government to give people with disabilities equal opportunities for employment.
According to Mr. Joekai, people with disabilities have been marginalized over the years but the government of President Joseph Boakai will never allow discrimination against any Liberian because of the deformity.
Speaking during the program, the National Commission on Disabilities called on the national legislature include the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled in the national budget.
The commission’s Executive Director, Samuel Dean, said NUOD like the Federation of Liberian Youth and the Liberia Albino Society should be given allotment because it is seeking the welfare of people with disabilities.
Mr. Dean also appealed to the President Joseph Boakai to publish an executive order for all ministries, agencies, commission and bureaus to establish a disabilities deck to address issues affecting people disabilities whenever they surface in these areas.
For his part, the President of the National Union of Organizations of the Disbled, Peter Flomo, appealed to partners for assistance to renovate and furnish the new headquarters of the institution.
Mr. Flomo thanked President Boikai for providing an office space for the union catering for people with disabilities in the country.
In a related development, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has underscored the need to implement all the laws in favor of the people living with disabilities in order to de-marginalize them and put them on the right footing in the society.
Minister Gbemie Horace-Kollie said the ARREST agenda of the Liberian government provide the basis for significant of people living disabilities to gain employment in the private and public sector, develop their skills and receive good education .
Minister Kollie statement was contained in the speech delivered on her behalf by Agnes Marshall, the Assistant Minister for Research, Planning and Policy at the program
According to her, all Liberians including people living with disabilities are entitled to benefit equally from the resources in the country.
Also speaking, a representative of the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human, Rights, Roosevelt Jayjay, expressed support for the efforts of NUOD to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.
He added that the OHCHR –UN will continue to work NUOD in order to provide basic skills to the people living with disabilities
The program, which was held at its conference room at the old building of the Ministry of Health on the Capitol Bypass, was graced by a cross session of personalities of officials of government, local and international nongovernmental organizations.