New York – The Liberia Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted a high-profile delegation from Liberia’s Ministry of Justice, including a key figure from the War and Economic Crimes Court, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This visit was part of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically SDG 16, which emphasizes peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The distinguished delegation included Deputy Minister Cllr. Charles D. F. Karmo II, Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi, the Executive Director of the War and Economic Crimes Court, and Atty. Lois Nimley (Nyenpan) Wisner, Legal Expert at the United Nations. Their participation underscored Liberia’s commitment to enhancing the rule of law, ensuring justice for all, and establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
During their visit, the delegation engaged in significant discussions with the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), led by Rachel Rossi, Director of the Office for Access to Justice. Rossi, who has been in her role since May 2022 and previously served as Deputy Associate Attorney General, was joined by Elise Keppler, Executive Director, and Kelly Adams, Legal Advisor of the Global Justice Center, as well as Stephen Mathias, the Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations.
In a critical address to the HLPF, Cllr. Massaquoi presented on “The Sustainable Development Goals 16 (SDG 16) in Compliance with the Role of the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.” His speech highlighted Liberia’s strides and challenges in upholding justice and accountability through establishing and operating the War and Economic Crimes Court.
The delegation also attended a prestigious lunch reception in honor of HLPF 2024, hosted by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Representative to the United Nations. This event provided an invaluable networking opportunity for the Liberian delegation to discuss further cooperation and support for their justice initiatives.
The visit of the Liberia Justice Ministry delegation to the United Nations marks a significant step in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its judicial system and uphold the rule of law, aligning with the global objectives set out in SDG 16.
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