A/HRC/12/42 page 7 repercussions in Monrovia, and risk cross border militia activity”.9 Furthermore, if such tension and conflicts are not resolved, they could be manipulated for political or other motives particularly in the period leading up to the 2011 elections. 5. The issue of archiving and ensuring public access to non-confidential material collected by the TRC remains unresolved. In addition, an efficient mechanism to ensure the safety of TRC records or documents, particularly those classified as confidential, has not yet been developed. Furthermore, the INCHR, which is mandated with ensuring implementation of the recommendations contained in the TRC report is yet to be constituted.10 6. Further concerns relate specifically to the issue of prosecutions. National prosecution initiatives undertaken following the conclusion of the mandate of the TRC must conform to international standards. Substantial resources and extensive training for national judges, prosecutors, defence counsels and investigators would have to be made available in order to facilitate investigations and prosecutions that comply with international standards. Additional resources would also be needed for witness protection. The TRC also recommends the establishment of a special tribunal to try serious crimes committed during the conflict. C. Implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy 7. The Government of Liberia has acknowledged shortfalls in meeting the benchmarks set for implementation of the first phase of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).11 According to the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, the Government has only achieved 18 per cent of the 107 planned deliverables, 68 per cent of the deliverables were off target, while 13 per cent did not meet the deadline. The PRS contains comprehensive economic, social and cultural, as well as civil and political rights benchmarks, linking legal empowerment and the rule of law to development. D. International Women’s Colloquium 8. To commemorate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2008, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President Tarja Halonen of Finland co-convened the International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, in Monrovia from 7 to 8 March. A national dimension of the Colloquium was also held from 9 to 9 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the Republic of Liberia, Conflict Mapping Project, page 3. 10 Section 46 of the TRC Act of Liberia provides that: “The Independent National Human Rights Commission shall be seized with the responsibility to ensure that all the recommendations contained in the report of the TRC are implemented ... .” 11 The Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy is to be implemented from 1 April 2008 to 30 June 2011. The first phase of implementation ran from April 2008 to April 2009. The Government has identified 347 interventions in the three years at an estimated cost of US$ 1.6 billion.

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