MONROVIA -- Four prominent civil society organizations have thrown their weight behind President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's push to create a war and economic crimes court and a national anti-corruption court, urging the Legislature to pass both bills as a designated House committee opens a two-day technical session on the proposed tribunals.
The organizations, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, Sisters AID Liberia Inc., the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia and the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, declared their position at a joint news conference Wednesday at CENTAL's headquarters in Monrovia. They endorsed the establishment of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the president's submission of the two bills to the National Legislature.
Speaking for the coalition, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen called the moment a historic opportunity to confront impunity, deliver justice to victims and strengthen the rule of law, saying civil society stands fully behind the country's transitional justice mechanisms.
He cast recent moves by the Boakai administration as an unprecedented turn toward accountability, noting that the president has formally sent both the War and Economic Crimes Court Bill and the National Anti-Corruption Court Bill to lawmakers and has extended the OWECC mandate with continued funding.
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The endorsement comes ahead of a high-level technical working session for the House committee handling the proposed courts, scheduled for June 11-12, which the coalition said should equip lawmakers with the legal, institutional and operational detail needed to weigh the legislation.
"The session is not a ceremonial gathering; it is a national obligation at a time when Liberia is finally taking concrete steps to confront impunity, ensure accountability, and strengthen the rule of law," Miamen said, adding that informed leadership at this stage is "a constitutional and moral duty."
The groups commended lawmakers who have already agreed to attend, describing their willingness to engage as an act of courage, and urged all designated and invited members, including those still holding reservations about the courts, to take part and engage constructively.
"While the President has proactively acted by submitting the bills and extending OWECC's mandate, it is now the Legislature's turn to act with equal resolve and integrity to timely enact both instruments," the coalition said.
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The organizations pledged to support the process with technical expertise, independent monitoring and public engagement, and said they would keep pressing for credible institutions capable of addressing war crimes, economic crimes and corruption.
"Liberia has waited long enough," the statement concluded. "Justice and accountability delayed must no longer be justice and accountability denied."
