Africa-Press – Liberia. The Youth Crime Watch of Liberia has held a one-day National Stakeholders Dialogue to address the current status, challenges, and prospects of youth and access to justice in Liberia.
The program that was held at the Bella Cassa in Sinkor brought together officials of government, civil society groups, development partners to brainstorm on how justice is being dispensed to the youths which is the largest segment of the population in the country. The one-day National Stakeholders Dialogue was supported by the Carter Center through funding from the Sweden Government.
Giving the overview of the event, the Senior Project Manager of the Youth Crime Watch of Liberia Varney Wilson said the dialogue is to create the space for discussion between state and non-state actors in understanding the current situation, challenges, and prospects for youth and access to justice.
This, he said, would lead to effective strategies for the implementation and revision of existing laws, policies and regulations surrounding youth and access to justice in Liberia.
“We young people are ready to take on the wheel to solve the many problems we go through,” Wilson said.
He added: “This is to improve the interaction and communication between young people and decision makers including the opportunity to share key messages with Heads of Government lines Ministries and Agencies, Youth, and Students on Access to Justice.”
According to him, the dialogue will further build upon achievements from other key policy documents on youth, access to justice as well as consider the current status, challenges and prospects.
The dialogue, Wilson says, will focus on key recommendations that will center around the implementation of existing policies and strategies that center on access to justice, peace, and security.
Also speaking, a Representative of the Carter Center Atty. Joseph Chessman commended the leadership of the Youth Crime Watch of Liberia for what he terms as their farsightedness in elevating an important issue of the youths and access to justice to the national stage.
“As our nation wrestles with a range of competing issues of concern, none could be more urgent than addressing the critical issue of how youths are engaged with our legal system,” Atty. Chessman said.
He added: “Justice for many who seek it can bring healing or cause lasting injuries, depending on how accessible the system is to those looking to seek its intervention. This is why enhancing access to justice for the largest segment of our population –the youth is important.”
