By S. Siapha Mulbah
The Liberia Coalition of Human Rights Defender has extended its policy awareness on the protection of those defending human rights to other parts of the country outside Monrovia.
Over the weekend, the human rights protection group which is a conglomeration of different civil society organizations visited Margibi County’s capital city Kakata to speak to thousands of residents on the importance of formalizing the drafted national human rights defender’s policy.
Appearing live on two top radio interviews at Classic FM and Radio Joy Africa, the team leaders answered questions related how the practice of human rights defense can be achieved and coordinated through a holistic approach with a working tool called the defenders policy.
The national chairperson of the coalition, Niedoteh Torbor, disclosed to residents in that part of the country that the fight to defend the rights of people continues to face challenges because those in the sector do not have a protective clause or document to guarantee their safety.
Mr. Torbor explained that the group of civil society organization saw the need of developing the policy in question that will set an agenda and protect those on the frontline promote decency in human existence through keen observation of their rights.
He told Margibians that the awareness is a national process because it has to do with people from all sectors and communities and Margibi being one of the closest counties to Monrovia, needed to be aware of said document.
The LICHRD delegation however clarified that human rights is not a tool that calls for misunderstanding between two different set of people by eradicating discipline as assumed by some citizens.
The acting Executive Director, Dwanna Kingsley, also gave a background of LICHRD’s working in the country before embarking on the initiative to have the drafted policy crafted to hold government feet to the fire.
Kingsley lamented that the implementation of a document after meeting government’s approval will safeguard human existence and build a culture for Liberia where they, as a country, can delivery on all of its promises made by committing to international treaties and conventions on human rights.
Speaking at the most talked about Kakata Intellectual Forum, the human right advocates asserted that the leadership and members of the intellectual community join the nationwide campaign in order to strengthen that capacity and protect them in doing their separate advocacies.
“Advocating for people rights to be respected need to have a protection for those that are doing the job. Sometimes you the advocates are abstracted from exercising your roles and threatened by other powers above you. In these cases, we will have a protection or legal document that will make government respond to your protection in order to freely do you work as human rights defenders,” LICHRD executives said.
The coalition then called on all civil society or rights actors to join the process of campaigning for the formalization of the legal instrument before the upcoming international Human Rights Day slated for December 10 each year.
The group also paid a visit to the Margibi County police detachment, the court and the administrative site to talk with some of those in charge of human rights’ protection in the rule of law system across the county.
