Active Civil Society in Liberia

November 10th

Today I was able to meet two interesting groups that institutionally are attempting to sustain significant positive change.

In the morning at the Archdiocesan Secretariat I was able to meet Mr. Aloysius Toe from The Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD). Since November 2003, this foundation, through budget analysis of the Government’s budget, points to inequities or imbalances that lead to human rights problems due to budgetary decisions. An example of this is the growing inequity between the rising salary and benefits to members of the Congress and the money allocated to local police forces. One is skyrocketing and the other is frozen at low and unworkable levels. The Foundations’ attention to the budget monitors accountability issues, poverty reduction programs, governance, human rights protection, and education for peaceful resolution. With regards the efficacy of International Law, FOHRD finds it adequate, but unable to apply its statues in particular and important situations. As a result, FOHRD is attempting to prosecute some crimes using local laws and judiciaries rather than appeal to International Law as a way to move the processes in a more timely fashion.

As I listened to Aloysius I came away confirmed that even what he was talking about is a kind of restorative justice outreach, again proving my hunch that people and agencies on the ground have the wisdom, energy and passion to recreate the processes that will restore their dignity, sense of self, and community.

In the afternoon I was able to meet with the Liberian Women’s’ Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC). Ms Tovian Estella Nelson, the director and three colleagues met with us. When they heard the purpose for my visit they were interested. They too are an advocacy agency, and they look at restorative justice through the lens of reparations. Reparations may not exclusively mean financial payback. It could mean many things. What of the issue of amnesty? Are the rights of the victims lost if the criminals are given amnesty? Through various means of consultation this women’s group attempts to raise the voice of women in terms of how the war touched and challenged their lives. It also provides a voice to move forward. They are even able to distinguish how the war affects children of various ages. Those who were 5 to 9 years of age during the war were very much broken in their development, different from those who were younger. This week, LIWOMAC is completing a survey of all NGOs working in Liberia to find out what programs are out there, which populations are targeted, and with what outcomes. There is no central data collection of these programs, outcomes, etc. This leads to duplication, waste and lack of information. This small group is asking for a public debate and national discussion on issues that are still unaddressed, like amnesty, reparations, and the like. They believe that through this debate, a national and collective voice will rise and will move the country to a helpful decision.

On a very practical side, LIWOMAC is training women to understand the role and purpose of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process, the issues involved, as well as attending to the need for security for women so that if they offer testimony as to who, when, and how they were violated, they will not be victimized once more. It seems that for a variety of reasons, women are not part of the TRC process. Among other things, they are not being invited to testify, marginalized once more.