At an informal meeting of the Liberia configuration held on 13 July 2011, Member States were briefed on the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) delegation's recent visit to Liberia (12-17 June 2011), the delegation’s first official visit to the country. The delegation was tasked with (1) discussing preparations with important stakeholders for the soon to be released review of the Statement of Mutual Commitments (SMC); (2) reviewing the reconciliation activities and outputs established in the Liberian Peacebuilding Program (LPP); and (3) analyzing progress in security sector and rule of law, with a focus on the first regional hub and civilian oversight.
Ambassador Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeud al-Hussein, Permanent Representative of Jordan and Chair of the Liberia configuration of the PBC, discussed the delegation's visit to Gbarnga, the capital city of Bong County, where members oversaw progress on the construction of the first Security and Justice Hub (stipulated in Liberia’s Statement of Mutual Commitments).In Gbarnga, the delegation also visited CuttingtonUniversity, where it considered the study of Liberian history as a tool for national reconciliation.The delegation also spent time in Monrovia, during which several members attended a roundtable discussion on security sector reform (SSR) and visited local police training facilities.Drawing on observations made from visiting the country, delegation members concluded that the PBC must continue its efforts to marshal funding for the as of yet incomplete security and justice hubs in Liberia.The delegation also pledged to continue the Commission’s ongoing dialogue with the Security Council, sharing their overall observations and expectations of the future draw-down of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
Chair's Briefing
On the delegation’s 12 – 17 June visit, the Chair of the configuration was joined by representatives from Liberia, Nigeria, Ukraine, the U.S., and the U.K. Over the course of the visit, the delegation met with international and national (government and non-governmental) stakeholders in Gbarnga.Members also visited the security and justice hub in Gbargna, as well as educational and training facilities. Of note, the Chair underscored the important participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in meeting with the Delegation and explaining their role in local community affairs in Liberia.
In his conclusions, the Chair directed attention to three main issues (elaborated in Liberia’s Statement of Mutual Commitments): (1) National Reconciliation, (2) Security Sector Reform, and (3) Rule of Law.
National Reconciliation After visiting Liberia and observing the country’s current peacebuilding program, delegation members concluded that remaining challenges for peacebuilding in Liberia include: weak oversight of security forces; little access to justice, and an underlying challenge of reshaping a peaceful Liberian identity.These matters are crucial in promoting national reconciliation, the Chair posited. Furthermore, national reconciliation must to be linked to related matters such as security sector reform (SSR).The delegation suggested that a national reconciliation strategy should be developed and implemented.After a meeting with the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) On Reconciliation, the Chair spoke with the President of Liberia, H.E. Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf, who agreed that a national reconciliation strategy should be prepared.
In developing a national reconciliation strategy, members of the delegation identified the Palava Hut model as a valuable forum for discussing injustices at the community level and finding a common historical narrative, useful for constructing a shared Liberian identity.Further, the delegation found that understanding problems like the marginalization that can result from institutional structures could help foster a Liberian identity.It also considered the impact of adopting new national symbols, like a national motto, in promoting the Liberian identity.Overall, the delegation praised the Liberian Government’s efforts underway to advance national reconciliation.
Security Sector Reform Despite the enormous progress made in improving the country’s security sector over the past seven years, the delegation still found that much work still needs to be done before the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) can hand over full security responsibilities to Liberian forces.Although most security challenges in the country are internal, the recent situation in Côte d'Ivoire presents an additional strain on Liberia’s security, especially in addressing cross-border issuesInternally, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains a huge concern.The delegation noted that the Liberian Government's support for the Regional Justice and Security Hub project will facilitate the deployment of police throughout the country, the Chair noted.The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and Police Support Unit (PSU) of the Liberian National Police (LNP) will be housed in the Hub complex in Gbarnga along with the Gbarnga magistrate court.There is, however, concern that the "soft component" of the Hub project will not advance as quickly as the "hardwire" component, which could greatly diminish the capacity of the Hub.
While progress has been made in SSR, the Chair noted that several challenges remain, first among them, the currently limited capacity of Liberia’s security service.While scaling down UNMIL’s presence in Liberia, mechanisms must be in place to prevent the re-politicization of security providers, the delegation noted.Importantly, the capacity of the nation’s security forces must be enhanced to deal with internal and regional challenges such as transnational crime, the circulation of arms, and mob violence.Related to this problem, the delegation pointed to the need to finalize the security sector’s legal framework. The Omnibus Security Act and Fire Arms Control Act are both important bills that must be passed through legislation, before SSR can realistically take place.
Rule of Law In addition to challenges in the security sector, the Chair emphasized Liberia’s remaining deficiencies in the area of rule of law.Although long-term solutions are necessary to institute reforms, the delegation was largely pleased with Liberia’s short-term accomplishments, such as the creation of the Law Reform Commission, that reflect the country’s willingness to fulfill its commitments to peacebuilding priorities identified in the SMC.The delegation believes that a case management system and an oversight mechanism can be instrumental in assisting reform efforts.
Of particular importance to the improvement of rule of law in Liberia, the Chair put a special emphasis on the role and work of national and international NGOs in BongCounty, especially for their efforts in raising rights awareness.NGOs working in this field can do much to spread word and understanding of the country’s legal system among the local population.Due to the impact of the projects, initially funded by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), Liberians are increasingly using (and trustworthy of) the legal system to address their needs.
