MONROVIA – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of human rights violations in Liberia under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. In its 2024 report, the Commission highlighted alarming trends of state security brutality, prolonged pretrial detention, gender-based violence, and harmful traditional practices, among other issues.
Cllr. Dempster Brown, Chairperson of the INCHR, stated that while the government has made strides in supporting justice actors, ensuring media freedoms, and improving access to healthcare and education, the overall human rights situation has deteriorated. The report documents numerous cases of human rights abuses that pose serious challenges to Liberia’s democratic stability and its adherence to international legal obligations.
A key concern outlined in the report is the excessive use of force by state security personnel, often resulting in severe bodily harm or death. On July 1, 2024, an officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) allegedly shot and killed a 17-year-old student in Paynesville City while attempting to restrain a suspect. Similarly, cases of deaths in police custody have been recorded, including the deaths of two individuals in April and June at the Salem Police Station and Zone Six Police Depot, respectively.
The Commission also reported a surge in mob violence, ritualistic killings, and other serious crimes, which have gone largely uninvestigated. The failure of law enforcement agencies to properly address these cases has fostered a culture of impunity, further weakening public trust in the justice system. The report also referenced Liberia’s controversial role in the extradition of foreign nationals without due process, such as the illegal expulsion of Sierra Leone’s former police superintendent, Mohammed Yaetey Turay, in 2023.
Gender-based violence, particularly against minors, remains a persistent problem. The Commission noted that rape and other forms of sexual violence continue to plague communities, with many cases remaining unpunished due to judicial delays. Additionally, the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practices have increased, despite government pledges to eradicate such acts.
The INCHR raised serious concerns about the condition of Liberia’s prison system, where overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, and prolonged pretrial detention have left detainees vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Many inmates are being held for minor offenses due to a lack of legal aid, further exacerbating the already dire state of the country’s correctional facilities.
The economic and social rights of Liberians have also come under threat, according to the report. The lack of access to quality healthcare, inadequate educational facilities, and poor budgetary allocations for social services have left many citizens struggling for basic necessities. The prioritization of benefits for state officials over essential services has only worsened these challenges, further deepening inequalities.
Human rights violations linked to business and concession agreements were also highlighted. Communities living in areas controlled by multinational corporations have reportedly suffered from forced evictions, violence, and state-backed repression. The Bea Mountain incident, where protesting community members were allegedly killed by state security forces, is a stark example of these abuses. Many human rights defenders in these areas now live in fear of persecution.
The report also condemns the state’s failure to protect the rights of children. Cases of child labor, including minors working on rubber plantations under exploitative conditions, remain rampant. Additionally, juveniles continue to be detained in adult prisons rather than rehabilitative facilities, exposing them to further abuse.
The Commission has called for urgent legislative and policy reforms to address these human rights concerns. It recommends swift investigations into all killings by state and non-state actors, criminalization of all harmful traditional practices, decriminalization of minor offenses to reduce prison overcrowding, and strengthened accountability measures for law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it urged the government to ensure the timely implementation of the National Action Plan for Child Welfare and Protection.
Despite these alarming findings, the INCHR acknowledged international and diplomatic support in advancing human rights in Liberia. Organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have contributed technical and logistical support to the Commission’s efforts.
