A/HRC/12/42 page 2 Summary On 19 September 2008, the independent expert on technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka, presented her report on the situation of human rights in Liberia to the Human Rights Council.1 The mandate of the independent expert was not renewed; instead in resolution 9/16 the Council invited the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to report to the Council at its twelfth session on the progress made in the situation of human rights in Liberia and the activities undertaken in the country. The present report is submitted in accordance with the mandate thus given to OHCHR and covers the period September 2008 to June 2009. The Government of Liberia has made some initial and important advances towards improving institutional human rights protection. With a view to reforming and strengthening the key institutions in the criminal justice sector, the Government commenced the drafting of strategic plans for the judiciary and the corrections sectors, while the strategic plan for the Liberia National Police (LNP) was finalized, setting out the framework for transforming the LNP into a viable, operationally effective law enforcement service. The legislature passed amendments to the act establishing the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). With the enactment of the amendments, it is critical that the commissioners of the INCHR are expeditiously appointed and a functioning, independent and accessible Commission put in place. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) continued its public hearings and a preliminary report, containing initial findings and recommendations, was published in January 2009. The TRC concluded its mandate on 30 June 2009 and presented its final report to the national legislature with a copy to the President. Although there is apparent growing commitment by Government to address human rights issues, for instance through strategic planning towards reforming institutions in the criminal justice sector, a number of serious human rights concerns persist. Institutions in the criminal justice sector remain weak due to shortages of qualified personnel, insufficient funding, lack of infrastructure and equipment, poor administration and corruption. Prison facilities are massively overcrowded, with over 90 per cent of the prison population in pretrial detention.2 Despite efforts made by the Government and members of the international community to implement a major joint programme to combat sexual and gender-based violence, cases of rape and other sexual crimes are still prevalent. Harmful traditional practices, including trials by ordeal, ritual killings and female genital mutilation are deeply entrenched and continue to be widely practised, in some cases with the knowledge or encouragement of local authorities. Inadequate protection of children’s rights remains a problem. Whether at home, school or in the community, children continue to suffer various forms of violence. In addition to physical and sexual abuse, children in orphanages live and study in poor conditions and run the risk of being trafficked especially 1 2 A/HRC/9/15. United Nations Mission in Liberia Corrections Advisory Unit statistics on prison population for 2008.