…Says his Appointment is Critical to US-Liberia Relations
The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), has welcomed and congratulated the newly accredited U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mark C. Toner.
The LNBA in a release issued on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, describes his appointment by President Joe Biden as critical to improving the traditional relationship between Liberia and the United States.
The Bar made the statement at a recent Transitional Justice Stakeholder Roundtable lunch hosted in its honor and other Transitional justice stakeholders by the new U.S. Ambassador accredited to the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia. During the interaction, the Bar and the U.S. Ambassador Mark C. Toner seriously emphasized the
importance of Liberia’s rule of Law program and promised to support mechanisms for the establishment of the much talked about War &Economic Crimes Court which is intended to bring Accountability and closure to war-era atrocities after over twenty years of civil hostility, as recommended by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Meanwhile, the recent lunch meeting hosted by Ambassador Toner in honor of the LNBA and other Transitional Justice actors was intended for acquaintance and to elevate serious conversation about the role of the Bar and relevant Civil Society organizations
in complementing the political will of President Boakai’s government in addressing transitional justice issues, and the establishment of the War & Economic Crimes court. The LNBA in a release says Ambassador Toner reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to collaborate with the Bar and relevant institutions to address challenges to the rule of law, accountability & governance in Liberia.
The Bar maintained that the rule of Law is Central to the U.S. approach to promoting a just, peaceful, and inclusive societies in line with democratic institutions. The Bar reminded Ambassador Toner that Access to legal services remains critical in poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainable growth, and development in Liberia. Moreover, the LNBA Says, that access to justice guarantees the respect for all and the protection of human rights in any democratic nation.
At the same time, the LNBA has commended the United Nations Peace building Commission (PBC) Liberia Configuration for convening a meeting focusing on transitional justice and Youth, Peace & Security – YPS; on August 19, 2024, in New York, United States of America.
The configuration which is chaired by Sweden through its Ambassador to the UN, hosted the meeting to provide an opportunity to discuss Liberia’s peace-building and sustaining peace priorities, including support for the establishment of a War & Economic Crimes Court and the National Action Plan on Youths Peace &Security (YPS).
The meeting also sought to identify concrete areas and ways on how the International Community can support Liberia’s peace-building and sustaining peace efforts, particularly transitional justice and peace-building initiatives.
