Africa-Press – Liberia. Ambassador Toner reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Bar and other relevant institutions to address challenges related to the rule of law.
The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has congratulated newly accredited U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mark C. Toner, on his appointment by President Joe Biden. The LNBA described his appointment as crucial to strengthening the longstanding relationship between Liberia and the United States. The congratulatory message was delivered on August 21, 2024.
Speaking during a recent Transitional Justice Stakeholders Roundtable lunch hosted in honor of the LNBA and other stakeholders by Ambassador Toner at the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia, LNBA Secretary General, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, emphasized the importance of the rule of law in Liberia.
He noted that both the LNBA and Ambassador Toner have underscored the significance of supporting mechanisms for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court. This court is intended to bring accountability and closure to the atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil wars, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The LNBA stated that the recent lunch meeting hosted by Ambassador Toner aimed to foster acquaintance and elevate serious discussions on the role of the Bar and relevant civil society organizations in supporting the political will of the Boakai administration in addressing transitional justice issues, including the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
In their statement, the LNBA noted that Ambassador Toner reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Bar and other relevant institutions to address challenges related to the rule of law, accountability, and governance in Liberia.
The LNBA further highlighted that the rule of law is central to the U.S. approach to promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies in line with democratic institutions. The Bar also reminded Ambassador Toner that access to legal services is critical to poverty reduction, gender equity, sustainable growth, and development in Liberia. They emphasized that access to justice guarantees the respect and protection of human rights in any democratic nation.
In a related development, the LNBA commended the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (UNPBC) for convening a meeting on the promotion of justice and Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) on August 19, 2024, in New York, USA. The configuration, chaired by the UNPBC, provided an opportunity to discuss Liberia’s peacebuilding and sustaining peace priorities, including the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security.
The meeting also sought to identify concrete steps and ways the international community can support Liberia’s peacebuilding efforts, particularly in transitional justice and sustaining peace initiatives.
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