The African Committee Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) concluded its follow up mission to monitor the status of implementation of its Concluding Observations and Recommendations issued to the Republic of Liberia. The mission took place from 6 to 8 Nov 2019 in Monrovia, Liberia and it was led by Hon. Dikere Marie Christine Bocoum, Country Rapporteur of Liberia, and the 1st Vice President of the ACERWC. The Concluding Observations and Recommendations were sent to the Government of Liberia in 2014 following the Committee’s consideration of the State Party’s Initial Report on the Implementation of the African Children’s Charter.
As part of the follow up mission the Committee had discussions with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and the Police with a view to gather a representative information on the progress and challenges of implementation of the recommendations of the Committee. The Committee also met with other relevant stakeholders, including the National Human Rights Commission, UNICEF, Plan International and Save the Children, that provided information on various thematic issues covered under the Concluding Observations and Recommendations. The follow-up mission culminated in a vibrant consultative workshop, which was attended by representatives of various Government Ministries, UNICEF, Civil Society Organizations and representatives from children’s forum.
Following the mission, the Committee notes with appreciation the measures taken by the Government of Liberia to implement its recommendations including the establishment of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the adoption of the Domestic Violence Bill, the establishment of women and children’s unit in the Police structure of 15 counties and the progress in decreasing maternal and child mortality rates. However, despite the progress made, the Committee notes with concern the persisting challenges which are precluding children in Liberia from benefiting from the rights and protections accorded to them through the African Children’s Charter. Particularly, the Committee notes the following challenges: lack of systematic data collection mechanism, lack of harmonization of customary laws on the minimum age of marriage, lack of legislation which clearly prohibiting the widespread practice of FGM, the existence of legislation which imposes death penalty for crimes committed by children from the age of 17, gender disparity in primary and secondary education, sexual abuse, rape in schools, the growing cases of teenage pregnancy, the existence of discriminatory laws on nationality matters, highly centralized and very low rate of birth registration, high rate of corporal punishment in all settings and prevalent cases of substance abuse by adolescents.
Albeit the difficult situation that the Country has been passing through, the Committee commends the government of Liberia for the gains it has revealed thus far in the advancement of children’s rights and welfare; and encourages the Government to further enhance its effort to continue implementing the outstanding recommendations of the ACERWC. The ACERWC would also like to recall that the first periodic report of Liberia was due in 2017; hence, it is the Committee looks forward to receiving the same in a foreseeable future.
The ACERWC extends its gratitude to the Government of Liberia and its Partner Organisations for making the mission a success.