Monrovia – A project funded by the British Embassy aiming to abolish the death penalty in Liberia has been officially launched by the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia. The British Ambassador to Liberia, Neil Bradley, officiated the ceremony, reiterating his government’s steadfast commitment to the global abolition of capital punishment.
Ambassador Bradley highlighted that as a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Liberia is obliged to halt executions and revise its laws to eradicate the death penalty. “We have a longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle,” he stated. He also expressed concerns that despite a global trend toward abolishing capital punishment, the past year saw a spike in executions worldwide, the highest in nearly a decade.
“The use of the death penalty undermines human dignity, fails to enhance community safety or deter crime, and often propels cycles of violence. It is frequently employed as a tool of repression,” Bradley explained.
Since acceding to the Second Optional Protocol in 2005, Liberia has been required to implement a moratorium on executions and amend its laws to eliminate the death penalty. “This project will foster public support for abolition and pave the way for Liberia’s ratification and domestication of the protocol,” said Bradley, envisioning a future with no new death sentences and broad public backing for non-violent crime punishment.
Reverend Francis Kollie, chairman of the platform’s board, emphasized the growing global consensus against the death penalty and torture. He revealed that twelve individuals are currently on death row in Liberian prisons. Reverend Kollie called for a unified approach from the Liberian government and civil society organizations to eradicate inhumane treatment and address past allegations of torture.
“Torture and the death penalty are utterly unacceptable under Liberian law, and our judicial system must reject these inhumane practices as firmly as any civilized nation does,” he declared. He underscored the importance of human rights as a cornerstone for a peaceful world, advocating for timely redress, inclusion of diverse human rights groups, and stronger advocacy.
The event, held at a local hotel, saw attendance from various dignitaries, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, the French Embassy, the European Union, ECOWAS, and numerous civil society organizations.
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