Africa-Press – Liberia. CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has pledged the Liberian Legislature’s commitment to ratifying the protocol establishing the African Court on Human and People’s Rights. Speaker Koffa made the commitment during a meeting with a high-powered delegation led by Lady Justice Imani D. Aboud, the president of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights.
“We will find out from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring it back in the floor to ratify. And we will not only ratify but to encourage some of our partners to also ratify protocol,” said Speaker Koffa.
The African Court plays a crucial role as a continental judicial body complementing the work of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. Despite its significance, the court faces challenges such as limited access for individuals and non-governmental organizations due to low ratification rates and compliance with its decisions among member states.
Justice Aboud urged Liberia to ratify the protocol establishing the court, emphasizing its importance in enhancing judicial protection of human and people’s rights across Africa. She noted that only 34 of the African Union’s 55-member states have ratified the protocol, while Liberia, despite signing it in 1998, has not yet done so. She urged Liberia to act to strengthen the court’s mission and ensure all Africans benefit from its judicial protection.
During their visit, the court’s delegation plans to conduct seminars with academia and various stakeholders to raise awareness of its role and services. Additionally, they seek collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to establish a focal point in Liberia for effective communication and cooperation.
Speaker Fonati Koffa welcomed the delegation and assured his commitment to work with the court to ratify the protocol during the 55th National Legislature. He acknowledged the shared goal of protecting human rights and recognized the potential benefits of collaboration.
The partnership aims to strengthen human rights protection in Liberia and across the continent. By ratifying the protocol and supporting the court’s work, Liberia can contribute to the broader mission of safeguarding the rights and dignity of all Africans.
The delegation also met with Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, who pledged her Senate’s commitment to ratifying the protocol.
The Protocol establishing the court was adopted in June 1998 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and entered into force on January 25, 2004. The African Court is a continental Court mandated to enhance the judicial protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa, complementing the protective mandate of the African Commission on Huma
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