A/HRC/16/3
created overlapping rights and claims to land. As a starting point, the Land Commission
had been reviewing titles and title claims relating to public land. In order to facilitate the
mandate of the Land Commission, the Law Reform Commission had researched and
analysed Supreme Court decisions and the country’s statutory laws concerning land issues
and had forwarded its findings to the Land Commission to facilitate its mandate. The Land
Commission was also working to resolve private land dispute issues, which could disrupt
peace and security and thus required immediate attention. In all cases in which alleged land
disputes had led to social unrest, Liberia was encouraging social dialogue to resolve issues;
was conducting widespread public awareness campaigns on land rights; and was addressing
broader, unresolved underlying factors, such as authority and legitimacy, that had fuelled
land and property disputes. In collaboration with international partners, several cases had
been resolved.
33.
Since there were many individuals in prison who had committed minor offences, the
Government of Liberia was looking at introducing alternatives to incarceration, such as
probation and parole. On 1 August 2010, Liberia had launched a 12-month training
programme for probation officers. Liberia was also training more prosecutors to handle
cases involving sexual offences. In addition, the Government had requested the judiciary to
open second courts with a view to swifter progress on cases involving sexual offences and
corruption. Another recently introduced programme was aimed at improving the case
management system. Liberia believed that once such mechanisms were in place, the
number of people in pre-trial detention would be reduced.
34.
Regarding improving citizens’ access to justice, Liberia outlined recent initiatives to
better harmonize the formal and customary justice systems, through a national consultation
and a three-day national conference, with the involvement of all stakeholders. A transcript
of the conference would soon be published, together with an analysis. They would be
considered at a further consultation, on the basis of which policy documents would be
developed with a view to improving legislation relating to access to justice.
35.
South Africa welcomed the establishment of the Independent National Commission
on Human Rights following the Accra Comprehensive Agreement of 2003. It also
expressed appreciation for recent efforts to revise discriminatory legislation and enact new
laws, in particular the 2006 Rape Law and the Bill for the Equal Participation of Women in
the Political Process. South Africa encouraged the international community to provide
Liberia with the technical assistance necessary to overcome the challenges faced by the
country. It made recommendations.
36.
Canada commended Liberia for the notable progress it has achieved in rebuilding
the country after the end of civil war, welcomed Liberia’s commitment to improving the
situation of women and noted its efforts to promote the implementation of the women,
peace and security agenda, including the enactment of a National Gender-Based Violence
Plan of Action and the establishment of a Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes Unit. However,
it remained concerned about the high incidence of rape, sexual violence and female genital
mutilation. It noted that Liberia had become a full participant in the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme in 2007. It acknowledged that, despite efforts to improve institutional
capacity in the criminal justice system, there remained serious challenges, such as the high
number of prisoners held in extended pre-trial detention, and a general distrust of the justice
system. Canada made recommendations.
37.
Germany asked how the 142 recommendations contained in the report of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission would be implemented. Germany referred to concerns
expressed by the Human Rights Committee regarding legislation adopted in 2008
envisaging the death penalty for a number of crimes and the Committee’s recommendations
in that regard, after recalling that Liberia was party to the Second Optional Protocol to the
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