Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) and the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) reported significant progress in the implementation of their groundbreaking project, “CSOs Advocacy to Accelerate TRC Implementation in Liberia.”
The initiative, launched in December 2024 with funding from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund through Conciliation Resources, focuses on advancing transitional justice efforts in Liberia by ensuring the implementation of key recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The official launch of the project on December 11, 2024, marked a critical step forward, bringing together 46 stakeholders, including representatives from civil society organizations, religious leaders, government agencies, and community members.
This collaborative initiative, which aims to directly engage over 300 beneficiaries and indirectly impact more than 20,000 individuals across seven counties, emphasizes the importance of collective action in addressing the lingering effects of the civil conflict in Liberia.
Since the launch, IWL and WONGOSOL have undertaken a series of strategic engagements that have yielded substantial outcomes.
A key milestone was achieved on January 15, 2025, during a consultative meeting with the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC).
During the discussions, OWECC announced plans to establish a dedicated Gender Unit in collaboration with UN Women and WONGOSOL. This development underscores a growing commitment to gender-sensitive approaches in Liberia’s transitional justice process.
The Gender Unit, according to OWECC, will focus on amplifying women’s voices, addressing their unique experiences during the civil war, and ensuring their full participation in transitional justice mechanisms.
The office has already allocated space for the unit and initiated discussions with UN Women to operationalize the initiative. Speaking on this progress, Harold M. Aidoo, Executive Director of IWL, stated:
“Establishing a gender unit within OWECC marks a crucial step toward ensuring that women’s experiences and needs are central to our transitional justice process. This institutional commitment, combined with strong partnerships across civil society and religious institutions, positions us well to advance the implementation of TRC recommendations.”
In addition to the breakthrough with OWECC, IWL and WONGOSOL have successfully engaged other key stakeholders, including the Liberia Council of Churches, the Ministry of Gender and Children Protection, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform, and the Liberia Peace Building Office.
These engagements have led to commitments to strengthen survivor protection mechanisms and enhance public awareness through targeted faith-based advocacy. Recognizing the need for inclusivity, recommendations were made to produce braille materials and provide sign language interpretation, ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind in Liberia’s transitional justice process.
Faith-based institutions have also been pivotal in promoting reconciliation and advocacy. Their involvement has sparked valuable discussions on how transitional justice mechanisms can be rooted in community-based approaches to achieve sustainable peace and justice.
IWL and WONGOSOL are determined to implement the project effectively across the initial seven counties while exploring opportunities for national expansion.
The stakeholder consultations have generated valuable recommendations for future phases, including the potential to extend the project’s reach to all 15 counties in Liberia.
This would ensure a broader impact and greater national alignment with the TRC’s recommendations.
The “CSOs Advocacy to Accelerate TRC Implementation in Liberia” project is a timely and critical initiative aimed at fostering justice, reconciliation, and accountability in Liberia. By working in close partnership with civil society, government agencies, and faith-based institutions, IWL and WONGOSOL are addressing the legacies of the country’s civil conflict, advocating for the establishment of structures such as the War and Economic Crimes Court, and ensuring that the voices of survivors are at the center of transitional justice processes.
As the project unfolds, IWL and WONGOSOL remain committed to their mission of empowering communities, fostering inclusive participation, and accelerating the implementation of Liberia’s TRC recommendations.
With a strong foundation laid and promising partnerships established, this initiative is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of Liberians.