Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Liberia)
Encyclopedia
The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is a Parliament
-enacted organization created in May 2005 under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Its mandate is to "promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by investigating more than 20 years of civil conflict in the country and to report on gross human rights
violations that occurred in Liberia
between January 1979 and 14 October 2003.
The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was released July 1, 2009 and is available at www.trcofliberia.org/reports/final.
In their Final Report, issued June 2009, the TRC included Sirleaf in a list of 49 names of people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for a period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with former warring factions." On 26 July Sirleaf apologized to Liberia for supporting Charles Taylor, adding that "when the true nature of Mr. Taylor’s intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process" than she. On 28 August Liberia's parliament announced they must "consult our constituents for about a year" before deciding whether or not to implement the Commission's recommendations.
In January 2011, the Supreme Court
ruled in Williams v. Tah, a case brought a person recommended for being banned from public office in the TRC report, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of the listed individuals' right to procedural due process, and that it would be unconstitutional for the government to implement the proposed bans.
Legislature of Liberia
The Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....
-enacted organization created in May 2005 under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Its mandate is to "promote national peace, security, unity and reconciliation" by investigating more than 20 years of civil conflict in the country and to report on gross human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
violations that occurred in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
between January 1979 and 14 October 2003.
The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was released July 1, 2009 and is available at www.trcofliberia.org/reports/final.
In their Final Report, issued June 2009, the TRC included Sirleaf in a list of 49 names of people that should be "specifically barred from holding public offices; elected or appointed for a period of thirty (30) years" for "being associated with former warring factions." On 26 July Sirleaf apologized to Liberia for supporting Charles Taylor, adding that "when the true nature of Mr. Taylor’s intentions became known, there was no more impassioned critic or strong opponent to him in a democratic process" than she. On 28 August Liberia's parliament announced they must "consult our constituents for about a year" before deciding whether or not to implement the Commission's recommendations.
In January 2011, the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Liberia
The Supreme Court of Liberia is the highest judicial body in the West African nation of Liberia. The court consists of the Chief Justice of Liberia and four Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
ruled in Williams v. Tah, a case brought a person recommended for being banned from public office in the TRC report, that the TRC's recommendation was an unconstitutional violation of the listed individuals' right to procedural due process, and that it would be unconstitutional for the government to implement the proposed bans.
Commissoners
The government of Liberia appointed 10 members.- Jerome J. VerdierJerome VerdierJerome J. Verdier Sr. is a leading human rights activist and environmental lawyer in Liberia. In 2006, Verdier was also selected to serve as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee for Liberia....
, chairperson - Dede DolopeiDede DolopeiDede Dolopei is a Liberian civil servant. She is the vice-chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Liberia. She has worked in various non-governmental organizations concerning women's rights, peace-building, conflict resolution and psychosocial counseling. She also holds several...
, vice chairperson - Oumu K. Syllah, treasurer
- Bishop Arthur F. Kulah
- Sheikh Kafumba F. KonnehKafumba KonnehSheikh Kafumba Konneh is a Liberian Muslim leader, prominent peace activist and member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia, which was founded in 2005.-Sources:*...
- Pearl Brown Bull
- Gerald B. Coleman
- John H. T. Stewart
- Massa Washington
- Henrietta Joy Abena Mensa Bonsu
Sources
- Official Website of the TRC
- Liberia to get US abuses report 31 October 2007, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...