Published: October 16, 2025
MONROVIA — The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support for Liberia’s justice reform efforts as the country advances toward the abolition of the death penalty. At the launch of the second phase of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Project in Monrovia, British Chargé d’Affaires Simon Tooth praised Liberia’s progress and urged full legislative repeal.
“To abolish the death penalty is a necessary next step in upholding human dignity and aligning with global human rights standards,” said Mr. Tooth. “There is no conclusive evidence it deters crime, and its irreversible nature poses a grave risk of injustice.”
The event, organized by the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, and the international community. It marks a pivotal moment in Liberia’s efforts to remove capital punishment from its laws, 25 years after its last execution and amid a longstanding moratorium.
Tooth commended both the Ministry of Justice and civil society organizations for their leadership and commitment. He emphasized that the UK stands ready to support Liberia’s reform process, noting that 113 countries had abolished the death penalty by the end of 2024.
Although Liberia signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) over two decades ago, capital punishment remains in its penal code something Tooth said must now change. He also highlighted the project’s relevance amid ongoing national discussions around the proposed War and Economic Crimes Court.
“This initiative will raise awareness, promote legal alternatives, and strengthen collaboration to ensure the bill’s passage and full abolition,” he added.
Justice Ministry: Reform Through Law and Dialogue
Kutaka D. Togbah, Director of the Human Rights Division at the Ministry of Justice, described the initiative as a “pivotal moment in Liberia’s pursuit of justice, dignity, and human rights.”
He said the Ministry has been deeply involved in reviewing the draft abolition bill to ensure it aligns with Liberia’s Constitution and its international obligations under the ICCPR.
“Meaningful reform goes beyond legislation. It requires public education, transparency, and national dialogue,” Togbah said, announcing plans for a public awareness campaign in partnership with traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the judiciary.
Togbah emphasized that abolition would place Liberia among a growing number of African nations embracing rights-based justice systems.
Press Union: Death Penalty Violates Constitutional Values
Press Union of Liberia (PUL) President Julius Kanubah also threw the media’s weight behind the campaign, calling the death penalty unconstitutional and in direct violation of the right to life.
“All human beings possess inherent, inalienable rights chief among them, the right to life and liberty,” he stated, referencing Article 20 of the Liberian Constitution. “Nowhere does the Constitution explicitly authorize capital punishment.”
Kanubah noted that despite the death penalty’s existence, Liberia continues to witness mob violence and extrajudicial killings evidence, he said, of its ineffectiveness as a deterrent. Instead, he called for investment in law enforcement, judicial integrity, and rehabilitation.
“The answer to crime is not state-sanctioned killing but a stronger justice system,” he said, pledging the PUL’s continued partnership with lawmakers and human rights advocates.
Civil Society: Time to Fulfill Our Commitments
Adama K. Dempster, Secretary General of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform, underscored the importance of the campaign in promoting justice and dignity.
“We are on the right side of history,” Dempster said, urging the government to permanently abolish the death penalty and commute all existing sentences.
He recalled Liberia’s 2005 accession to the Second Optional Protocol but noted that the country reinstated the death penalty in 2008 amid rising violent crime a decision he described as contradictory to international obligations. Fourteen people remain on death row.
Backed by more than US$84,000 in UK Embassy funding, the five-month project will support civil society organizations, promote public engagement, and build consensus around legal reform.
“Our goal is to promote human rights and the rule of law through education, dialogue, and inclusive participation,” said Dempster. He added that, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Liberia has a duty to lead by example.
“Abolishing the death penalty would not only fulfill our international commitments but affirm Liberia’s dedication to human dignity and justice.”
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