By Alex Yomah
The United States Department report on Human Rights on Liberia has given the country credit in its 2022 Human rights for the level of Freedom of speech, and increased peaceful Assembly with the freedom of Association demonstrated in Liberia despite its political tension in the country.
“The Constitution provides for the freedom of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights,” the US Department Bureau stated.
According to the report, under President George Manneh Weah, a variety of civil society groups conducted demonstrations throughout the year, including outside of the legislature and the Foreign Ministry on January 18 and the LNP officers fired tear gas to disperse a political opposition demonstration that ended up peacefully.
On July 26, a protest by a student group was violently broken up by persons credibly alleged to be ruling party supporters, and according to media reports, the LNP officers were present but did nothing to stop the violence.
“The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation and the government generally respected these related rights,” the report credited the government.
“Foreign Travel: In an effort to reduce human trafficking, on April 4, the government imposed a 90-day moratorium on international travel by persons seeking employment outside the country as domestic workers,” Weah led-government was in the human rights report.
According to the Human Rghts report, the government cooperated with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees; returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.
Speaking of Access to Asylum; the law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees.
The government provided a prima facie mode of recognition for refugees from Page 11 Cote d’Ivoire, granting automatic refugee status without a formal hearing to those who fled because of 2011 postelection violence, but complied with a UNHCR recommendation to end refugee status for Ivoirians effective June 30, but most Ivoirian refugees voluntarily departed, while some opted for local integration.
Out of what was termed as durable solutions during the year, the government resettled, offered residency, and assisted in the voluntary return of refugees.
Voluntary repatriation of Ivoirian refugees took place with the support from UNHCR, which also provided aid to refugees who opted for local integration. The government assisted these efforts by offering long-term residency and inclusion in the government’s benefit system.
The government provided temporary protection to individuals who may not qualify as refugees. Asylum seekers who presented themselves to UNHCR and the Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission were provided temporary protection while their cases were being adjudicated.
The Constitution and law provide citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.
Elections and Political Participation-recent Elections on June 28, the country conducted a by-election to fill a vacant senate seat in Lofa County.
Those election observers characterized the election as free, fair, and largely peaceful. The country last held presidential elections in 2017-after lengthy legal challenges to first-round results, George Weah won the presidential runoff in a process deemed free and fair.
There were instances of violence against opposition leaders and candidates during the year. For example, media reported that on June 27, a vehicle belonging to an opposition political figure Yekeh Koluba was attacked and damaged while he was campaigning and that the attack occurred in the presence of LNP officers, who reportedly did not intervene.
Prior to the June 28 Senate by-election, the National Elections Commission; attempted to exclude opposition Unity Party and all Liberian Party candidates from participation-after a Supreme Court’s ruling that the candidates were allowed to participate in the polling.
The government created and granted government’s positions to members and sympathizers of the ruling party as a reward for, or benefit of, party affiliation rather than based on qualification or experience.
On many occasions, the legislative branch resisted this pattern. For example, in September, the Senate rejected Darlington Karnley, the presidential nominee for managing director of the Roberts International Airport, whom the Senate found to be unqualified.
Participation of Women and Members of Minority Groups; no law limits participation of women or members of minority groups in the political process, and they did participate.
“Women and members of historically marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities and lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans-genders, queers, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, participated significantly at lower levels than men as party leaders and elected officials,” the report stated.
