Monrovia – Despite a raft of government reforms and international partnerships, Liberia continues to face serious human rights challenges, according to the 2024 U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices released this week.
By Aria Deemie with New Narratives
The report found there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Liberia during the year and credited the government with taking steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, including abuses committed during the country’s civil war.
But it found there were still significant human rights issues including credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists and censorship; trafficking in persons; and systematic restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.
Human rights watchdogs echoed the findings saying that despite government efforts underfunded and corrupt institutions were continuing to leave Liberians vulnerable to abuses.
“Rape is a human rights issue. Economic rights are human rights. Environmental issues are human rights,” said Anderson Miamen of CENTAL, the Liberian transparency organization. Agencies like the police, Ministry of Justice, and drug enforcement are critical, but inadequate resources and corruption affect enforcement.”
Child labor is one of the issues highlighted in the U.S. report.
One issue that has consistently been highlighted in the U.S. reports in prison overcrowding and arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention without trial. In April, unrest erupted at Fish Town Central Prison after the death of an inmate. Experts say the facility, already overcrowded with poor medical care, remains emblematic of a justice system where investigations into deaths and abuse often stall, leaving families without answers.
Across rural counties, residents struggle to access justice and protection. In Grand Cape Mount, heavy-handed police action against local communities protesting the Bea Mountain Mining Company drew international attention. The West African Frontline Grassroots Defenders’ Directory reported that during protests on February 28–29, 2024, police used live bullets and tear gas against residents, including women and children, after communities raised concerns over water contamination and environmental harm from the mining operations. At least three protesters, including students, were killed, and nine others critically injured. Meanwhile, in Margibi County, FrontPage Africa reported a local politician’s son was rearrested to face drug charges following public outcry over his release after four months, while other accused minors remain in pretrial detention, highlighting disparities in the application of justice.
Human trafficking, another violation highlighted in the report, remains a serious and under-prosecuted crime in Liberia, with victims—often women and children—regularly lured from rural areas or neighboring countries with false promises of work or education. Many end up in forced domestic labor, street hawking, or sexual exploitation, particularly in urban centers like Monrovia. Despite a strengthened anti-trafficking law, the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force has been starved of funds and prosecutions have dropped. Victim support services are severely limited. Shelters are almost nonexistent, forcing many survivors to return to unsafe environments. Law enforcement agencies cite lack of training, resources, and coordination as key obstacles, while civil society groups warn that corruption and political interference further undermine accountability.
“Everyone should be equal under the law. No one, whether rich or powerful, should be above it,” said Eddie Jarwolo, Executive Director of NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development, another accountability watchdog.
Prolonged pre-trial detention and prison overcrowding are highlighted in the U.S. report. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File
The government has taken steps to address some issues. Experts point out that the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) introduced electronic procurement systems to increase transparency. Meanwhile, the Boakai administration has moved toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, creating an office in May 2024 tasked with designing the court’s methodology and structure. Progress includes the appointment of Jallah Barbu as executive director and coordination with the UN for technical support, although advocates stress that renewing the executive order and providing sufficient funding remain critical to ensure sustainable operations. Internal audits have been strengthened through the General Auditing Commission and the Internal Audit Agency, while the Ministry of Justice launched programs to curb mob violence. Periodic presidential amnesties have also been used to ease overcrowding in prisons.
Yet civil society says progress is patchy. Miamen added that across rural counties, residents struggle to access birth registration, social services, and police protection. In Grand Cape Mount, communities affected by illegal mining reported river pollution that destroyed crops and fishing grounds—highlighting how environmental degradation is closely linked to human rights. He said that government reforms alone are insufficient.
Jarwolo urged Liberian institutions to lead with regular, independent reports rather than relying on foreign assessments.
“The National Human Rights Commission should release regular, independent reports, analyze issues, and recommend solutions. We shouldn’t have to wait for foreign governments’ reports, the Commission must lead accountability efforts and respond to misinformation.”
With Liberia holding a seat on the UN Security Council, activists say meaningful reforms—consistent law enforcement, resourced agencies, and stronger civil society—are urgently needed to protect the rights of all Liberians.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the American Jewish World Service. The funder had no say in the story’s content.
