The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has called for significant reforms to address barriers hindering access to justice in the country.
Speaking during the convention of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), recently held in Nimba County, AFELL underscored the need for coordinated efforts to strengthen quality legal services and promote equal access to justice for all Liberians.
Delivering remarks under the theme “Consolidating Efforts to Strengthen Quality Services to Increase Access to Justice for ALL,” AFELL’s president Philomena Williams emphasized the organization’s commitment to providing legal aid and advocacy for marginalized groups over the past 30 years.
Through its Legal Aid Clinic, AFELL offers pro-bono mediation and litigation services to vulnerable populations, particularly women.
However, AFELL ‘s president highlighted systemic challenges that continue to undermine access to justice, including complex legal procedures, financial constraints, prohibitive court costs, prolonged case adjudication, lack of public awareness about legal rights, and fears of judicial bias.
She then craved government intervention and increased funding to address these barriers.
“The government must ensure a comprehensive rebranding of the Judiciary to guarantee access to justice for all as enshrined in the Constitution of Liberia,” she stated.
AFELL also commended Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh for her efforts to reform the Judiciary by automating court records and enhancing structural access to justice.
Yet, the organization noted that these measures require broader collaboration among the three branches of government.
The Association expressed concern over the recent governance issues, citing a lack of coordination among the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.
AFELL stressed that effective cooperation, guided by constitutional principles of checks and balances, is essential for maintaining the rule of law and fostering public trust in the justice system.
“The Constitution establishes three equal but coordinated branches of government. No one branch is more powerful than the other, nor above the rule of law. We urge our leaders to respect these principles to prevent actions that could erode peace and security,” AFELL emphasized.
The female lawyer further extended gratitude to its international partners, including the Clooney Foundation for Justice, Dignity, and UN Women, for supporting its mission to advance access to justice for women in Liberia.
