MONROVIA — Liberia’s longstanding civil society campaign for accountability, victims’ rights and transitional justice has received regional recognition following a high-level strategic meeting in The Gambia, where a Liberian participant highlighted the role of citizens’ organizations in sustaining pressure for justice despite political and institutional obstacles.
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia have formally expressed appreciation to Liberian participant human rights activist Adama Kiatamba Dempster for his contribution to the High-Level Regional Strategic Convening on Transitional Justice in The Gambia, held October 19–20, 2026.
Dempster, National Secretary-General of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia and lead campaigner for the Coalition for the Establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia, was among the key contributors to the regional discussions. In an appreciation email sent after the gathering, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice described his contribution to Panel 3, titled “Criminal Accountability Beyond Prosecution,” as central to the meeting’s objective of promoting peer learning and identifying practical, long-term solutions to transitional justice challenges.
The organizers particularly recognized his presentation on the experiences of Liberian civil society organizations, emphasizing the contribution of victims’ groups, women, youth and human rights organizations in resisting political stagnation and maintaining pressure for justice.
The recognition places Liberia’s transitional justice experience within an important regional conversation involving countries seeking to address the consequences of past conflicts, human rights violations and political abuses. However, converting truth-seeking and recommendations into concrete accountability measures remains a major challenge for countries undertaking transitional justice processes.
It is against this background that the regional convening brought together stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore approaches that extend beyond conventional criminal prosecutions.
The ISS and Gambian Ministry of Justice said the gathering was designed to encourage practical peer learning and develop long-term solutions that could strengthen transitional justice efforts across the region.
Dempster’s contribution was particularly relevant to the discussions because it connected Liberia’s experience of sustained civil society advocacy with The Gambia’s continuing search for effective accountability mechanisms.
The organizers said his presentation demonstrated the importance of maintaining pressure for justice, particularly when domestic political and institutional circumstances threaten to delay or weaken accountability processes.
They further expressed appreciation for his contribution to the discussion on criminal accountability beyond prosecution, describing his intervention as an important lesson for delegates examining the limitations of existing domestic legal frameworks.
The recognition also reinforces the importance of regional cooperation among civil society organizations, justice institutions and human rights advocates in addressing historical violations.
For Liberia, the acknowledgment represents an opportunity to demonstrate that its experience, despite the country’s continuing transitional justice challenges, can contribute to practical solutions in other African countries. The broader significance lies in the possibility of transforming lessons from Liberia’s difficult history into knowledge that can assist other societies seeking justice, reconciliation and institutional reform.
While regional recognition does not automatically resolve Liberia’s own accountability challenges, it highlights the continuing relevance of the country’s civil society movement in international and regional justice discussions.
The ISS and The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice concluded their correspondence by thanking Dempster for his partnership and meaningful support, expressing interest in maintaining collaboration on future initiatives aimed at advancing transitional justice in The Gambia.
The acknowledgment signals the potential for continued exchanges between Liberian justice advocates and regional institutions as West African countries explore practical ways to address impunity and strengthen the rights of victims. For Liberia, the message is clear: the experience of its civil society organizations is not only part of its national struggle for justice but also a contribution that can help shape transitional justice efforts across the African continent.
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