The ACP-EU joint parliamentary Assembly delegation Friday concluded their three-day fact finding visit to Liberia and presented its findings to the Government of Liberia during which it lamented the lack of prosecution in corruption cases in the post-war nation.
Addressing reporters at the en d of the visit, Mr. Louis Michel Co-President of the ACP-EU said: "We have of course raised the issue of corruption. We know that corruption in this country is probably high and we have no doubt that all the authorities we met are fully engaged in fighting corruption but we also underline the realities between the speeches and public commitment there are rather a few cases that are prosecuted."
The EU executive blamed this on the lack of reform on the systems of government which he named the justice system as a major component of that much needed review process.
Among many things, the mission observed that the need for an efficient and accessible judicial system is indispensable to the proper functioning of democracy, accountability and Transparency and the fight against corruption.
The delegation said: "The mission encourages efforts to improve the legal framework, the administration of Justice, to include capacity building in policing, forensic investigation and prosecution. This must be accompanied by appropriate sensitization programs to educate the public about their rights and the judicial process."
The delegation also said, Liberia as a country is endowed with rich land, natural resources and biodiversity and only a judicious management of these resources, taking into account the importance of environmental protection as well as the needs of local communities, is essential to contribute to sustainable development, lifting people out of poverty and the consolidation of peace.
The delegation also expressed its concern about the planned reduction of UNMIL forces during the period 2013-2015 given security threats in the region, and the prospect of highly competitive presidential elections in 2017.
The need for the requisite political will among all the state and non-state stake holder to overcome those enormous challenges of National development and institutional constraints was also listed among the delegation findings.
At a news conference Friday, the delegation also commended the government of Liberia for the progress made on many economic indicators, as well as in the areas of basic health and education which they attributed to the political stability of the country since 2005 while acknowledging the fact that Liberia is still in a post-conflict reconstruction.
The Delegation applauded the government for launching the process of constitutional review, and hoped that this process will lead to a stable, more democratic and accountable system of governance and common national identity. The Mission believes that electoral reform is indispensible to the process of transformation of Liberian society, governance and legislative process.
Continued the mission:"Electoral reform must aim at inspiring the confidence of the population in the conduct and management of elections. The body responsible for the preparation and execution of elections must be seen and perceived to be neutral, impartial and transparent."
Nita Deerpalsing acting Co-President of the ACP-EU JPA, stressed the need for a long-term significant investment in health and education that will have what she called the long term dividend that will build Liberia because according her it is only a educated and healthy people that will build the country.
Deerpalsing said: "One of the focused that we see here is that a very significant long term investment in health and education is important for the long term sustainability of building your institutions, building your human capacity so that you can have good institutions that will produce good governance."
She disclosed that their assessment has proven that there is lack of capacity and human resources in various institution of governance and the need for reform something she said if ignore could lead to a weak state.
While in Liberia, the delegation met with several individuals and institutions including Vice President Joseph Boakai, House Speaker Alex Tyler, Senate Pro-temp Gbehzohngar Findley, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Francis Korkpor, representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, and the National Elections Commission amongst others.
The ACP-EU delegation members include: Ms Nita K.R.Deerpalsing, member of parliament from Mauritius acting co-President of the ACP-EU JPA head of delegation and Louis Michel, Member of the European Parliament, Co-President of the ACP-EU JPA others members include Mr. Derek Vaugham, Member of the European Parliament, Vice president of the JPA, Mr. Niccolo Rinaldi, member of the European Parliament, member of the JPA, Mr. Edwin Banda, Member of parliament from Malawi, Vice president of the JPA, and Mr. Fitz Jackson, member of the parliament from Jamaica, Member of JPA.
TWO SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN BONG
The Nine Judicial Circuit Court in Bong County in collaboration with the Sexual Gender Based Violence Crimes Unit of the Ministry of Justice, has brought down a guilty verdict against two men accused of statutory rape.
The two men, Prince Cooper and Prince Paye believe to be in their late 20's was found guilty over the weekend following a unanimous verdict by the grand Jury sitting during its term of court.
Prince Cooper was accused of raping a 12 years old girl last year in Bong while on her to visit her ant. Prince Cooper who later confessed to the commission of the crime said he raped the victim several times in a rubber farm despite several attempts for her to escape. The court has however sentenced him to seven years in prison.
For his part, Prince Paye, was accused of raping a ten year old girl in the joy creek community in Bong county minutes after she collapsed as a result of epilepsy. Although, the accused denied the allegation, Bong County Attorney Cornelius Flomo Wennah said government was able to prove beyond all doubts that the accused did commit the crime as evidence by medical reports which showed that the victim was abused five times during the incident.
He said, Paye who disguised him as an epilepsy doctor, went about raping the victim for several days in his room. Meanwhile, the court is expected to handle down a sentence tomorrow Tuesday at 10:30AM.
At the same time, the Sexual Gender Based Violence Crime Unit of the Ministry of Justice (SGBVCU), has ended two separate workshops for investigators and health workers managing SGBV cases in the country. The workshop brought together over 50 participants from three of Liberia's 15 political sub-divisions, namely Lofa, Nimba and Bong counties.
It was held under the theme: "Building Skills for Proper Investigation, Collection, Handling and Storage of Evidence to Support Prosecution and Improving Skills for Interviewing Child Witnesses and Effective Health Care Response to SGBV Cases."
With venue at the Justice and Security Regional Hub Training Center in Gbarnga, the workshop attracted creams of professional lawyers and investigators some of which included Cllr. George Saybeh, Liberia Deputy Chief Prosecutor Sexual Gender Based Violence Crimes Unit and Mr. Linsey Gould Chief Investigator, Women and Children Protection Section, Liberia National Police (LNP).
Several topics relative to the handling of evidence and survivor safety and interview were highlighted during the workshop. Speaking at the close of the event, Cllr. George Saybeh said the workshop was part of government efforts to ensure the fight against SGBV is intensify.
"We remain unbending when it comes to the fight of SGBV in Liberia," he said. "Many out there don't believe that SGBV is taken place in Liberia. Yes it is taken place and we will go after those involved despite status and location."
He lauded the efforts of participants and challenged them to use the knowledge acquired wisely in the discharge of their duties across the country. "A new war is not taking place in the country. That war is rape and SGBV and we all must serve as actors to combat this virus," he added. "Thank you for the best efforts applied and all we can say is that we are in the same boat."
However, participants praised government for the opportunity to boost their capacity and vowed to use the skills acquired in the discharge of their duties. Matthew Dogbe, Physician Assistant at the Tellewoyan Memorial hospital said "this workshop has built our capacity and we are now prepared to go back to our work places to use them."
Sexual violence against women and girls pervades households and communities throughout the country. It is estimated in Liberia, that two out of three women and girls throughout the country experienced some form of Sexual Gender Based Violence during the country's 14-year conflict.
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