“2024 Human Rights Violation Is Worse Than 2023” -INCHR Releases 2024 Report
By Bill W. Cooper
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has released its much-anticipated 2024 Human Rights Situation Report, revealing a troubling escalation in human rights violations under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
The report, released by the INCHR Chairperson, Cllr. Dempster Browne yesterday, March 26, 2925, comparing the current year to the previous one under former President George Weah, indicates that the human rights landscape in Liberia has deteriorated significantly.
The INCHR’s report also highlights a range of human rights abuses, including increased instances of police brutality, rape, conditions in prison, cases of death in the custody of state authority, and restrictions on freedom of expression, among others.
The INCHR was established in 2005, with the mandate to protect the rights of the citizens, promote Human rights in Liberia, and advise the government on issues of human rights, including the release of quarterly and yearly human rights reports.
Addressing the press yesterday, Cllr. Browne reported that during the period under review, 90 cases of rape, especially minor, were reported with most of them still in the Court’s dockets across the 15 counties.
He also reported that the Ministry of Justice had not taken any practical steps to address the issue of pretrial detention, thus leaving the prison facilities across Liberia to be faced with the issue of over crowdedness.
According to him, from January to December 2024, the commission also monitored and recorded series of Human Rights abuses and violations, including torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, deprivation of life, rape, domestic violence, and violence against children and women.
Citing instances, Cllr. Browne mentioned, “On enforced disappearance, one Abraham Kali Cherif was arrested and charged with recruiting mercenaries to subvert the government. Cherif was sent to Court but to date, his whereabouts are unknown.”
“However, the Liberia government said that he was turned over to the Guinean government which is a violation of the Geneva Convention, in which Liberia signed and ratified. Another is the Lofa June 8, 2024, accident of the disappearance of an 8-year-old boy,” he narrated.
Cllr. Browne further explained, “During the period under review, killings by non-state actors become prevalent mostly victims of these killings go missing, the state takes limited or ineffective investigations.”
He maintained, “Several reports received by INCHR highlighted cases with many of the victims found dead. Monitors documented cases of killing which include children of seven years, as the INCHR documented 12 cases of ritualistic killings.”
The INCHR Boss further explained that on September 9, 2024, in Voinjama City, Lofa County, a 30-year-old man was mobbed to death during the evening hour. It was reported that the man was a thief; he went to steal a motorcycle, and on September 14, 2024, another 30-year-old man was also mobbed to death in Voinjama. No arrest was made.”
“Access to Justice, which includes prolonged detention without trial, juvenile justice, coupled with child labour and trial by ordeal without any action from the government’s ministries and agencies are also issues that need to be addressed now by President Boakai.
So, I am calling on the President to take action now and save his legacy; if those he appointed to help him are not doing the job effectively, sack them because you have a mission to change this country while some of them may have their own mission to damage your legacy,” he cautioned.
