The President's recent nomination of seven candidate commissioners to Liberia's Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) is a step forward for human rights and accountability, the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) said Tuesday.

President Sirleaf last Thursday appointed Cllr. Punchu Leonard Bernard as chairperson. Cllr. T Dempster Brown, Mr. Thomas Abu Bureh, Mr. Boakai Dukuly, Ms. Macdilla Howard, Ms. Ruby Johnson Morris and Mr. James D. Torh are other commissioners of the 7-member commission.

"It's encouraging there are now candidates for the human rights commission," said Comfort Ero, Deputy Director of ICTJ's Africa program.

"Liberia's Senate should begin the confirmation process as soon as possible so that the Commission can finally begin its work. Seven years have already gone past since this body was originally meant to be created."

The INCHR was mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2003.

In February 2010, six candidates nominated as commissioners by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf were rejected by the Liberian Senate.

No reasons were publically given for the rejection. The most recent set of nominees has been drawn from a list of twelve Liberians, including five women, submitted to President Johnson-Sirleaf on July 24 by an independent expert committee.

The INCHR's mandate is to promote and protect human rights in post-conflict Liberia. The Act, which also created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (whose mandate was to investigate human rights violations committed between January 1979 and Oct. 14, 2003), calls on the INCHR to ensure and monitor the implementation of the TRC recommendations.

"Moving forward with the appointment process sends an encouraging message about Liberia's commitment to promote and protect human rights and address many of the issues raised in the TRC recommendations" said Thomas Jaye, Head of Office, and ICTJ Liberia Program. "But this commitment can only become tangible and useful if practical steps continue to be taken by the Liberian Senate to create a strong, independent and impartial body."

Both the TRC and the INCHR are products of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2003 to end almost 14 years of civil conflict in Liberia.

The INHRC mandate is to promote and protect human rights in post-conflict Liberia, while the TRC mandate is to investigate Liberia's past, including violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, with the view of providing a forum for justice, reconciliation, peace and unity.

The International Center for Transitional Justice works to redress and prevent the most severe violations of human rights by confronting legacies of mass abuse. ICTJ seeks holistic solutions to promote accountability and create just and peaceful societies.