Published: October 26, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s national bar association will press its campaign for war crimes accountability before an international audience in New York on Wednesday, when its president speaks on justice for children harmed in armed conflict.
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By Alphanso G. Kalama
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Cllr. F. Juah Lawson, president of the Liberian National Bar Association, is scheduled to address an African Union event during International Law Week 2026, according to a statement the association issued Oct. 21. The event is titled “Advancing Accountability for International Crimes Against Children.”
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“Liberia’s history reminds us that children are among the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict. Their suffering must never be overlooked, and justice must extend beyond recognition of their experiences to meaningful accountability, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” Lawson said in the statement.
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The association said she will draw on Liberia’s 14-year civil conflict, during which armed groups forcibly recruited and exploited children. It said she will argue for stronger national mechanisms to bring perpetrators of serious international crimes to justice. She will also highlight the bar’s long-standing advocacy for a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, which the association calls a critical step toward ending impunity.
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Lawson is expected to present the bar’s views on international legal standards, Liberia’s legal framework and survivor-centered accountability. She will also address how a proposed convention on crimes against humanity could make international justice more responsive.
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“Our participation provides an important opportunity to share Liberia’s experiences, contribute to the development of international legal standards, and reinforce the urgent need for accountability mechanisms that recognize and address the distinct harms suffered by children during armed conflicts,” she said.
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Lawson said protecting children requires strong legislation, functioning courts, international cooperation and sustained political will.
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The forum will bring together government representatives, international organizations, legal practitioners and child rights advocates. According to the statement, they will examine national, regional and international legal frameworks and approaches to child-sensitive accountability. They will also discuss how negotiations toward a crimes against humanity convention could strengthen protections for children. Organizers will highlight the African Union’s work on children in armed conflict, including that of its newly appointed special envoy on children and armed conflict.
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