unmil focus4 unmil focus september - november 2007 bey rebecca bannor-aaddae merging from the...

Vol. 4, No. 01UNMIL FOCUS

September - November 2007

Towards aNational AgendaNo to Arms, Yesto DevelopmentForestry ReversesCivil War RoleForestry ReversesCivil War Role

No to Arms, Yesto Development

Towards aNational Agenda

2 UNMIL FOCUS September - November 2007

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This will be the last column I write for UNMIL FOCUS as I shall be leavingLiberia soon to take up my new assignment as the Special Representativeof the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of Congo and head ofthe UN peacekeeping mission, MONUC.

It has been an eventful time since I arrived in Liberia in August 2005. The firstjob was to ensure free and fair elections. Those successful elections broughtPresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female Head of State to office.Since then the Government, with the active support of UNMIL, the UN country teamand other partners, has made substantial progress on rebuilding the economy,improving state administration, restructuring the security services, overcoming thedebt burden and extending the rule of law throughout the country. Only a few yearsago such a transformation would have been almost unimaginable.

In extending UNMIL’s mandate in September for a year, the Security Counciltook account of the significant strides that Liberia has made since the end of the civilwar but also recognised the daunting challenges that still face the country.

We all agree that we must not put at risk the achievements made so far. This iswhy the Security Council has adopted a gradual, step by step approach to the draw-down of UNMIL forces. We shall monitor the situation carefully, especially thedevelopment of Liberia’s capacity to take over the responsibility for its own securi-ty, including the fight against crime. We recognise, however, that lasting security andstability lies in a broader definition of security that embraces respect for the rule oflaw, the protection of individual rights, the reduction of poverty, the promotion ofgender equality and in healing the wounds inflicted by the abuses and violence of thepast.

The Secretary-General’s decision in early October to declare Liberia eligible forthe UN Peacebuilding Fund is a timely boost to our efforts to achieve this widervision of security. UNMIL has already begun consultations with the LiberianGovernment and local civil society partners to devise a priority plan to push forwardthe consolidation of peace in Liberia.

As I move to another African country that is struggling to emerge from its ownchapter of war and division, I will take with me many very helpful lessons fromLiberia together with the memory of many good experiences.

In particular I am thankful to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, her governmentand the people of Liberia for the excellent cooperation extended to UNMIL and theUN country team. Without that support we cannot fulfil our mandate in Liberia.

I am especially grateful to all the civilian, military and police personnel workinghere as a part of UNMIL and the UN country team. It is your exemplary dedicationand tremendous hard work, often in difficult and dangerous situations, that havemade the difference. I have learnt over the years of my professional life that you areonly as good as the team around you. And I have enjoyed the support of a great team.I know that you will extend the same support to my successor Ellen Margrethe Løj.

So to each and everyone of you and to your families I say goodbye and good luck.I wish you every happiness and success in the New Year.

Alan DossSpecial Representative of the Secretary-General andCoordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia

September - November 2007 UNMIL FOCUS 3

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SSttaaffff WWrriitteerrssSulaiman MomoduRebecca Bannor-AAddae J. Wesley Washington

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IN THIS ISSUE

Visit us at www.unmil.org

NNeeww SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthhee SSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall

14 Towards a National Agenda6 No to Arms, Yes to Development8 Forestry Reverses Civil War Role

10 Justice Sector Makes Progress12 Treating Prisoners as Humans14 Confronting Cholera16 Malnourished Children Battle Legacy of War18 Why Gender?20 Interview: Alan Doss22 Where is Home?24 The Quest for Shelter25 Humanitarian Appeal Launched26 At least the World Will See...28 Emergency Response Unit Takes Shape29 Army Training Gathers Steam30 Small Grants, Big Relief31 Mentoring the Media32 German Chancellor Lauds UNMIL33 New Sierra Leonean President Visits Liberia35 Immigration Workshop in Gbarnga36 “We Are Always Beside You”38 Liberians Speak

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon inOctober announced theappointment of EllenMargrethe Løj of Denmark

as his new Special Representative toLiberia. Løj replaces Alan Doss, whomoves to the Democratic Republic ofCongo as the Secretary-General’s SpecialRepresentative and head of MONUC.

Currently, Denmark’s ambassador tothe Czech Republic, Løj has more than 30years experience in the diplomatic service.She was the Permanent Representative ofDenmark to the United Nations from 2001to 2007 and served as a chairperson of theUN Security Council’s SanctionsCommittee on Liberia. Between 1977 and1986, she served as Secretary in her coun-try’s Permanent Mission to the United

Nations and then as Counsellor within theEuropean Commission in Brussels. From1986 to 1989, she was Head ofDepartment in the Foreign Ministry. Inaddition, she was State Secretary of theSouth Group in Denmark’s Ministry ofForeign Affairs from 1996 to 2001. Løjwas also her country’s ambassador toIsrael from 1989 to 1992.

In addition to her diplomatic appoint-ments, the Danish diplomat has served onthe supervisory board of Scandlines AGand Scandlines, a Danish shipping compa-ny. She was a member of the advisoryboards of the Industrialization Fund forDeveloping Countries and the InvestmentFund for Central and Eastern Europe.

Born on 17 October 1948 in Gedesby,Denmark, Løj graduated from theUniversity of Copenhagen in 1973 with aMaster’s degree in political science.


By Rebecca Bannor-AAddae

Emerging from the 14-yearcivil war that cost more than200,000 lives, tore apart thecountry’s social fabric and allbut destroyed its infrastruc-

ture and economy, Liberia today is busypicking up the pieces and heading for anational revival.

Four years after the end of the war, theLiberian government is moving beyondinterim policy strategies to embark on afive-year national agenda -- the PovertyReduction Strategy (PRS) 2008-2012. ThePRS significantly differs from past prac-tices of narrow inclusiveness and inequitythat led to the enrichment of a few at theexpense of the vast majority of the popula-

tion. The government is acknowledgingthat in order for Liberia to enjoy sustain-able peace and prosperity, all Liberiansmust take ownership of the country’sdevelopment.

“The current government is recognis-ing that part of what caused the conflictcould be attributed to the marginalisationexisting at the time. People did not feelpart of the government. Decisions werebeing made for them as opposed to involv-ing them in the decision making process-es,” says Ambulai Johnson, Minister ofInternal Affairs. “For 160 years Liberiahas operated with an overly centralisedgovernment structure and, as we can see,the development impact has not been bal-anced.”

The PRS embodies decentralisation as

a policy strategy. Part of the decentralisa-tion process includes production of thefirst county-specific development agendas(CDAs), developed by the people, for thepeople. By gathering information on theirdevelopment status such as access to cleandrinking water, schools, clinics and roads,and identifying unexplored resources forprogressive development, the CDAprocess will encourage communities tosystematically think about their problemsand possible solutions.

The PRS, of which the CDAs feedinto, is not a welfare programme, asPresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pointedout at its official launch in August.“Poverty reduction is not a reinforced andbroadened safety road for the poor.Reducing poverty is not something this

Towards a National AMassive poverty and unemployment haunt many Liberians

the 15 counties and will further inform theframework of national development strate-gies in the PRS. “A donor will be able topick up the CDA and locate that, in thisparticular county, they are in dire need ofclinics or, for instance, an investor will beable to identify that in River Cess theyhave excellent opportunities for watertransport, River Gee is rich in forestreserves and so on,” says MinisterJohnson. “The CDA is a county referencedocument not only intended for donorsand investors but for the people. It is aroadmap for the people in the sense thatthey themselves have formulated theirneeds and their vision. Instead of ad hocdevelopment, counties can soon lay out astructured development plan referencing

the CDA.” In August, the 15 County

Development Superintendents, govern-ment ministers and members of the UNfamily met for a workshop in Gbarnga toprepare for the CDA process.Development Superintendents are theleading facilitators in the process as con-sultations move from district to districtand finally end at the county level. “Thisworkshop gives us the tools and tech-niques to go back to our county districtsand sit down with the people, to shareideas and together construct the CDA,”said Ophelia Williams Draper,Development Superintendent of MarylandCounty.

Apart from providing an opportunityto raise questions and suggest adjustments,the workshop included sessions on infor-mation management, conflict resolution,

September - November UNMIL FOCUS 5

government can do alone. It is somethingwe all must do,” said the President.

The government’s decentralisationefforts emanate from the belief that eco-nomic and social growth requires publicownership. The CDA, which will be sub-ject to regular updating, is developed fromconsultations in the counties, evolvingfrom district to county consultations.Community stakeholders such as countylegislators, commissioners, paramountchiefs, clan leaders, civil society, socialand religious groups and business interestgroups are involved in these consultations.As the drivers of development, they willformulate the needs, interests and visionsof their respective counties.

The CDA is intended to be the blue-print for development activities in each of

methodology, the PRS framework and abreakdown of the CDA formulationprocess to ensure that everyone was on thesame page.

“Many of our citizens are illiterate butit doesn’t mean that they cannot be part ofthe CDA process,” said Draper. “This is aparticipatory exercise and all levels of oursociety will be engaged. I feel that our dis-cussions and the tools we get in this work-shop will further enable us to include allactors in formulating our needs andaddressing our future.”

The decentralization efforts draw sig-nificant support from the UN CountySupport Teams (CSTs) composed ofUNMIL and UN agencies. CST facilitatorswho generally work with the office of thecounty Superintendent offer guidance aswell as technical and logistical support tothe CDA process.

Each of the 15 counties are expected tohave completed the CDA by December.The findings will then go to the Ministryof Planning for eventual input into thePRS. It will be the first time that Liberiaembarks on a development agenda in theinterest of the entire population. What isnow a participatory process can, withdetermination, develop into a practice ofaccountable and transparent policy mak-ing and as the President remarked on theofficial launch of the PRS: “It is abouttomorrow. What do we, Liberians, wantour future to look like?” AgendaThe Poverty Reduction Strategy

(PRS) revolves around fourstrategic pillars: security and

peace, economic revitalisation, gover-nance and the rule of law, and infra-structure and basic social services.

The decentralization efforts drawsignificant support from the UN CountySupport Teams (CSTs) composed of theUN family in Liberia. The CST mecha-nism is a process fashioned as a coher-ent UN approach to strengthen the gov-ernment’s recovery and developmentprocesses. It assists in rebuilding ofadministrative buildings, capacitybuilding amongst local leadership andinformation and data managementcapacity at the county level.

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By Sulaiman Momodu

At the UNDP headquarters inMonrovia, NapoleonAbdulai reaches out for hisdrawer, pulls out a small boxand empties its contents on

the table. The sight is extraordinary andeven shocking. What lay on the table areseveral bullets.

“These bullets can kill hundreds ofpeople,” says Abdulai, ProgrammeManager of the UNDP Small ArmsControl Programme, holding one of themmeant for an AK-47 rifle, a killingmachine widely used in Africa’s civilwars. “We have collected over 45,000pieces of ammunition and about 500 gunsso far.” In exchange for surrendering theseweapons, UNDP is offering developmentprojects in post-war Liberia under theaegis of its Arms for Development pro-gramme (AfD).

Despite the successful completion ofthe Disarmament and Demobilization(DD) phase of the Disarmament,Demobilization, Rehabilitation andReintegration (DDRR) programme inNovember 2004, there are still some smallarms and light weapons in circulationthroughout the country. Beyond the armsand weapons, there is also the added men-ace of numerous unexploded ordnances(UXOs) littering the communities follow-ing Liberia’s 14-year civil war thatclaimed hundreds of thousands of lives. InZota, Nimba County, a seven-year-oldchild was seriously injured recently afterstepping on a bomb that exploded. “UXOsare all over …lots of bullets, guns andbombs had been left behind during thecountry’s war,” says the UNDP officer.

Currently, 19 projects are being imple-mented under the AfD programme, includ-ing the construction or renovation ofadministrative buildings, town halls, clin-ics, schools and the implementation of

micro-credit schemes in places like Foya,Kolahun and Ganta. Some of the projectsare in progress while two projects inNimba and River Gee counties have beencompleted. Most of the projects are fund-ed by Japan but UNDP also puts in somecore funds. The agency also monitors theprojects to ensure that the resources arenot misused. All arms and ammunitioncollected as part of the AfD programmeare handed over to the UN mission.

“Violent conflict in Liberia has cometo an end but the struggle for developmentis just starting. Our goal must be to pro-mote and maintain a secure environmentthat makes development possible. MakingLiberia safer for development is, therefore,at the core of UNMIL’s mandate and sumsup what we and our partners in the interna-tional community are working to achievehere in Liberia,” notes the SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General,Alan Doss.

The AfD programme involves theUNDP officials going into communitiesand meeting with traditional leaders,women’s and youth groups, former fight-ers and government officials. A committeeis then formed with emphasis on the inclu-sion of women in the executive. UNDPprovides logistics assistance such as sta-tioneries and motor bikes for mobility. Thecommunity then comes up with a list ofprojects from which one is identifiedaccording to the scale of preference andhow it will help improve the lives of thepeople. Each community is then givenbetween US$ 25,000-40,000 based onneeds and the number of arms collected.However, if a community comes up withan innovative but costly project, the smallarms programme works together withother units of the UNDP to raise theresources. UNMIL peacekeepers provideassistance in the implementation of theprojects as the need arises.

The AfD programme was first

launched in January 2006 in Ganta, NimbaCounty, where an administrative building,which is expected to enhance the presenceof government, has been recently handedover to the community.

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All projects are implemented in closecollaboration with the government, UNagencies, UNMIL and civil society inLofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee,Bong, Maryland and Grand Kru counties.Areas of the country along the borderswith Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and SierraLeone are given particular focus. InKolahun alone, near the border with SierraLeone, 10,000 bullets were collected aspart of the AfD. “We think that we are justtouching the tip of the iceberg,” saysAbdulai, and notes the programme is to beextended to the remaining eight counties.

On discovering UXOs, a red tape orred piece of cloth is placed at the site andUNMIL peacekeepers are immediatelyinformed. At the Voinjama MultilateralHigh School premises with a student pop-ulation of over 1,000 pupils, a bomb wasrecently discovered and was quickly deto-nated by UN peacekeepers from thePakistani contingent. “We are very grate-ful to the UN Mission and the UNDP forremoving the danger from our school. Wewould like them to thoroughly look in andaround our school. We may have bombsall over,” says the principal, Addis M.

Kutu Acquoi. “In Voinjama District, we have discov-

ered UXOs in trees, in school compounds,market places, in ditches and at officepremises. From 2006 to October 2007, wehave discovered over 200 UXOs inVoinjama District alone includinggrenades, bombs and rockets. We haveover 50 rifles that have been surrenderedand thousands of ammunition…people arewillingly surrendering weapons to us,”says Lyndon B. Gibson, the UNDP SmallArms Field Officer.

Urban centres are also being givenspecial attention. The AfD programme isexpected to take off in Monrovia,Buchanan, Tubmanburg and other urbanareas in collaboration with the communi-ties come next year. Already, UNDP isworking in close collaboration with theLiberia National Police (LNP), UNMILand communities to reduce armed violencein crime prone areas in Monrovia and itsenvirons. UNDP has provided motor bikesto the LNP, and is currently revamping thepolice garage where the motorbikes couldbe repaired when broken down.

As part of the AfD programme, aNational Commission on Small Arms inLiberia comprising eight government min-istries has been established and equippedwith computers, a photocopy machine, agenerator and a small conference room.Currently the country’s obsolete 1956Firearms Strategy Act is being reviewed toenact a reformed law in tune with thetimes. An ongoing public awareness cam-paign, involving radio announcements,billboards, traditional communicators anddrama, explains why people should turnover their weapons in return for develop-ment projects in their communities.

Notwithstanding the fact that AfD isimpacting positively on communities,deplorable road network, weak capacity ofimplementing partners and the dearth offunds are among the challenges beingfaced by the programme. But for how longwill the arms collection last? Experiencesfrom other parts of the world show thatone cannot put a limit on arms collection.“But it is also not timeless,” says Abdulai.Throughout West Africa, NationalCommissions for Small Arms are expectedto take over the job that the UNDP is per-forming in the areas of small arms controlin the coming years.

Weapons surrendered in exchange for development projects

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By Sulaiman Momodu

The forestry resources once usedto finance the brutal civil war inLiberia are now reversing theirignominious role in the past,much to the delight of the people

of the war-weary nation. With the restora-tion of peace and the assistance of theUnited Nations Mission in Liberia(UNMIL), the country’s ForestryDevelopment Authority (FDA) is regain-ing control over the resources leading tothe use of the rich forestry assets for devel-opment that would benefit the people.

The trade in timber once accounted for50 per cent of Liberia’s exports, worth anestimated US$ 80 million, and contributedto about 20 per cent of the gross domesticproduct. But during the country’s protract-ed conflict, forestry resources were mis-managed and exploited, forcing the UNSecurity Council to impose sanctions onthe country’s timber exports in July 2003for three years.

Although exportation of the forestry

resources is yet to begin, the FDA saysover the past one year a total of US$ 1 mil-lion has been realized in revenue. UNMILhas created an enabling environment forthe Authority’s personnel to work at theircheckpoints. The Mission has also builtthree inspectorates for the Authority atMount Barclay, Schieffelin and Iron Gateon the outskirts of Monrovia, through itsQuick Impact Projects to assist in monitor-ing and curbing illegal logging operations.Two other inspectorates are being con-structed by UNMIL in the counties. FDApersonnel are deployed at eight check-points en route to the capital, Monrovia,helping monitor forestry resources trans-ported to the city.

At the handover of the three construct-ed offices in August, the SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General,Alan Doss, hailed the work of theAuthority and welcomed the ending ofsanctions on Liberian timber but addedthat “the bounty of the forest must benefitall Liberians.” He recognized the crucial

role of the FDA in ensuring that the rich-ness of Liberia’s bio-diversity is preservedwhile the country benefits from the eco-nomic gains accrued from the revivingtimber industry.

The Managing Director of the FDA,John Woods, says the forests of Liberia are“an ecological storehouse of worldwidesignificance” and acknowledged UNMIL’scontributions to the forestry sector byhelping to curb illegal logging before

Forestry ReversesCivil War Role


sanctions were lifted. He also sought fur-ther assistance to establish additionalinspectorates in more remote areas ofLiberia.

For a long time, most of the peopleinvolved in the timber business were ex-fighters who did not want to pay any taxesor even give statistics on their transac-tions. “With FDA workers deployed atUNMIL-manned checkpoints, forestryproducts are now being monitored,” says

the UN imposed sanctions on Liberiantimber, one of the pre-conditions set wasthat we should make sure that we are capa-ble of monitoring the forest resources.This was the first challenge that we had –now the sanctions are lifted but we could-n’t have done it without the assistance ofUNMIL.”

Between four to six uniformed FDApersonnel assigned to an office work on ashift basis as most timber dealers travel atnight. “We are here to monitor forest prod-ucts by receiving way bills from timberand permits from charcoal dealers. We col-lect and inspect the documents, file andrecord in our ledgers on a daily basis andsubmit our monthly report,” explainsMargaret Jallah, FDA Supervisor at theMount Barclay checkpoint near Monrovia.

Although some gains have been made,challenges remain. “The office thatUNMIL built for us, for which we are verygrateful, is several metres away from thischeckpoint. But we still prefer working atthis checkpoint because the drivers don’trespect us. When we are at the inspectoratethat UNMIL has built and we stop cars,they will not stop. In fact, they have threat-ened that if we stand on the road to stop,they will kill us. Only UNMIL can help usto stop cars. Without UNMIL we will notbe able to carry out our job, so we want an‘iron gate’ where our offices are,” saysJallah.

“Our people are now dignified. Theyhave good office space but they do nothave the command to stop vehicles espe-cially in areas where UNMIL has disman-tled checkpoints. We want the authoritiesto please help us in this regard,” pleadsKopodolo. Added to the unwillingness ofdrivers to stop and the Authority’s lack ofvehicles to conduct patrols, timber dealersoccasionally forge way bills and receiptsand carry excess timber beyond what theystate on the way bills.

Forest resources in Liberia account for47 per cent of its land. The Forestry reformlaw, which the Food and AgricultureOrganization, World Bank and other part-ners contributed to develop, has beenenacted and the Authority has come upwith regulations to open the industry.Doing so means job opportunities for theteeming unemployed population. Butmore importantly, it means more gains forthe war-torn nation which badly needsmoney to tackle its myriad challenges.

Forestry resources fuelled civil war

An Inspectorate Booth constructed by UNMIL’s Quick Impact Project

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Moses G. Kopodolo, Manager of the Chainof Custody Division at the Authority.

The trade in timber itself is illegaltechnically, according to the FDA,although it is tolerated as all timber indus-tries were vandalized and people need torebuild their homes, schools and otherinfrastructure. The dealers are also not reg-istered as registering them will be inter-preted as legalizing the trade.

Revenue from forestry resources is nothandled by the Authority’s staff and noneis a signatory to the accounts in line withthe government’s efforts to minimize cor-ruption. A minimum fee of 60 Liberiandollars (US$ 1) is charged per log whilenon-forestry products like charcoal, rattan,bamboo pay 400 Liberian dollars per trip.The procedure in generating the revenuesinvolves the timber owners informing theFDA about pieces of timber they have inthe counties. A bill is then given to thedealer who goes to the Liberia CentralBank and pays. The dealer brings theBank’s cheque to the FDA in return for awaybill stating the ownership of the timberand where it is coming from. At the check-points, while transporting the timber, thedealer presents the receipt and the waybill,and the timber is allowed into Monrovia.

Liberia used to have some 23 loggingcompanies, but according to ExecutiveOrder Number One, no individual or com-pany now owns any concession in Liberiaas all concessions were cancelled. “Mostof the logging companies did not evenhave the legal papers or concession agree-ments and had no proof of honouring theirtaxes. Imagine we had 64 million dollarsthat could not be collected, that was out-standing in taxes,” says Kopodolo. “When


By J. Wesley Washington

Assisting the government torebuild the country’s security andrule of law sectors is a strategicpriority for the United NationsMission in Liberia (UNMIL). As

the country makes the transition from law-lessness to respect for the rule of law,Liberia’s judicial system faces phenome-nal challenges in the administration anddelivery of justice across the country.

The lack of qualified judicial person-nel, poor or non-existent infrastructure,people’s lack of confidence in the judici-ary, and a culture of corruption andimpunity are just a few of the myriad chal-lenges facing the judicial system. To assistin tackling these challenges, UNMIL,through its Legal and Judicial SystemSupport Division (LJSSD), is currentlyengaged with the Judiciary, Ministry ofJustice, and other legal institutions indeveloping and implementing a variety ofinitiatives, in collaboration with otherinternational partners.

Accurate information and data onalmost all aspects of the justice system,including the number of staff in all thecourts and the types of cases handled, areunavailable. From 2006, UNMIL has beenworking with the judiciary and UNDP toestablish a comprehensive database ofinstitutional information on all courts.LJSSD conducted an assessment ofrecord-keeping practices in theMagistrates’ Courts in order to assist thejudiciary in designing a simple and effec-

tive case registration system. Data on theprogression of all serious criminal casesfrom arrest to resolution in 2006 have beengathered to accurately assess the caseloadof individual courts and the judiciary as awhole.

As courts receive substantial amountsof money in the form of fees, fines and bail

bonds, the financial accountability of thejudiciary is at stake without properrecords. LJSSD is now assisting the judici-ary to develop procedures under whichbail bonds would be held in bank accountsand not left in the custody of court staff.

Serious shortage of qualified staff,especially in the lower courts, is a major

impediment. The prosecution service facesa similar problem. As a short-term solu-tion, in 2006, UNMIL engaged the servic-es of 12 qualified Liberian lawyers for asix-month period to assist the Ministry ofJustice by prosecuting cases and providingsupport to existing prosecutors. UNMILalso hired the services of 11 qualifiedLiberian lawyers to represent indigentdefendants charged with criminal offencesin the Circuit Courts to strengthen thecapacity of the public defence system.Two of the prosecutorial consultants havenow accepted permanent appointment asCounty Attorneys. The programme cameto an end earlier this year, but it is hopedthat it will recommence in November2007.

For longer-term solutions, LJSSD par-ticipates in a technical committee estab-lished by the Chief Justice to assess theoptions for establishing a judicial traininginstitute for Liberia. In 2006, UNMIL sub-mitted a project proposal to the OpenSociety Initiative for West Africa

JusticeSector MakesProgress

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(OSIWA) for a scholarship scheme for lawstudents. This has now been funded withUS$150,000 and, over the next threeyears, is expected to produce 50 law grad-uates to work for the Ministry of Justice.

LJSSD has provided training for mag-istrates, justices of the peace, court clerks,prosecutors, legal aid providers and seniorlaw students to enhance their capacity. In2007, training was also provided for seniorstaff and officers of the Bureau ofImmigration and Naturalization. Trainingfor hearing officers of the Ministry ofLabour on due process and adjudicationprocedures is set to begin soon. Thesetraining programmes are conducted in col-laboration with national partners (primari-ly the Ministry of Justice and the SupremeCourt) and draw on national legal expertsas facilitators in conjunction with person-nel from LJSSD.

The urgent need to renovate and reha-bilitate the dilapidated judicial infrastruc-ture is yet another major challenge.Through its Quick Impact Projects,

UNMIL is currently reconstructing andrehabilitating court houses, and police andprison facilities throughout the country.Nine court house projects have alreadybeen completed in Tubmanburg, Gbarnga,Greenville, Caryesburg, Bensonville,Ganta, Bopolu, Kakata and Maryland. TheMagisterial courts in Cestos City,Sanniquellie, Zwedru and Zorzor, theCircuit courts in Rivercess, Grand Gedehand Nimba and the Buchanan CourtComplex are currently at various stages ofconstruction.

UNMIL has also assisted the govern-ment in legislative reforms covering,among others, rape, human trafficking,juries, and financial autonomy of the judi-ciary. In 2006, UNMIL provided consult-ants and technical expertise for the estab-lishment of a Law Reform Commission,which would provide a sustainable mecha-nism for the progressive development andreform of the law. The bill, establishingthe Commission, has since been presentedto the President of Liberia.

As there is significant uncertainty overthe legislations actually in force in thecountry, UNMIL is working with theMinistry of Justice to ascertain which lawswere passed or published during the con-flict period with a view to eventually pub-lishing a comprehensive listing. LJSSDhas also provided advice on specific leg-islative reform proposals, such as on drugtrafficking and money laundering and onamendments to the Labour Law.

UNMIL has deployed its legal staff inall the counties except Rivercess, RiverGee and Gbarpolu, which are covered byofficers serving Grand Gedeh, GrandBassa and Bomi respectively. These fieldofficers assist in building and strengthen-ing the capacity of the local judicial andprosecutorial systems by providing on-the-ground advice and assistance tojudges, magistrates, court officials, prose-cutors and defence counsel to enhancetheir knowledge and skill. They also mon-itor major trials.

Alan Doss hands over a newly renovated courthouse in Maryland County


By Neeraj Bali

Located on Harper’s mainstreet, Maryland County’sprison could easily be mistak-en for a well-secured housingcompound. Inside, seven

Corrections officers, including one volun-teer, are charged with looking after 48inmates, many of them ex-combatants. AKenyan Corrections Advisor of UNMILoversees the work, stepping in with adviceon even seemingly mundane matters.

When UNMIL FOCUS visited theprison, one inmate was handcuffed to asteel door. The prison superintendent saidthe prisoner had tried to hurt himself witha sharp object. Since the prison has nomedical facility, he had to be transportedoutside for treatment. He violently resistedbeing taken to the hospital and was beingrestrained to keep him from doing furtherharm to himself. “That is not the way todeal with this situation,” George Okumu,

UNMIL’s Corrections and Advisory Unit’smentor in Harper, tells the prison superin-tendent in a polite, respectful tone.

Locks missing on many a cell door, noequipment to deal with riots, lack of sani-tation materials, and absence of medicalcare on the compound -- the list of woesfacing the prison is almost endless.Okumu acknowledges the shortcomingsbut is quick to add that Liberia never had aproper prison system. “The Bureau ofCorrections and Rehabilitation wasformed only in 1978, and war broke outsoon after. It will take a while before facil-ities and standards are up to a minimumlevel.”

The Bureau of Corrections andRehabilitation is the direct custodian of allinmates once they are charged or sen-tenced. The task the Bureau faces is a dif-ficult one. To help re-integrate inmates intheir communities after release, convictedcriminals should be detained in facilitieswithin the county they have been convict-

ed in. After the war, however, all the pris-ons were shut, with the exception ofKakata. When UNMIL arrived,Monrovia’s prisoners were being kept inthe cellar of Liberian National Police(LNP) Headquarters, under inhumane con-ditions.

As part of its efforts to assist the gov-ernment to reform the security sector,UNMIL is helping to build a functioningand humane prison system. The Mission’sCorrections Advisory Unit (CAU) pro-vides substantive assistance in three prin-cipal areas -- prison reform, prison moni-toring, and training and development ofprison service personnel.

Since 2005 CAU, along with theBureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation,has trained 105 correction officers, and 69are still under training. “The graduatesundergo a year’s training, which includesfield training. They learn everything fromreport writing and inmate administrationto conflict management and penal rules,”

Treating Prisonersas Humans

A renovated detention facility: most of Liberia’s prisons need urgent rehabilitation


says Fatumata Sheriff, Assistant Ministerfor Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Jeremiah Weah is one of the newCorrections Officers. He completed thefirst three months at the training academyin the capital and is now undergoing aneight-month field experience in MonroviaCentral Prison. “A lesson that is constant-ly stressed at the academy is that inmateshave to be treated humanely. Althoughthey’re in prison, they’re still humanbeings and they have human rights,” saysWeah. “An important part of the job is thatI should help maintain the dignity ofinmates.”

His sentiments are echoed 500 kilome-tres away among Corrections officers atthe spacious but yet be opened NationalPalace of Corrections in Zwedru, GrandGedeh County. “People in the communityfear criminals who have just finished time.Our challenge is to reform them, to givethem trade skills to become productivemembers who can reintegrate into the

community,” says Victor Dolue, a recentgraduate. His colleague James Dwehagrees that the training changed his life.“From not knowing much, I went to beinga confident person who can manage con-flict. We learned how to control peoplewhen they make palava, and to placatethem.”

Currently in the final stages of refur-bishment, the detention facility is meant toaccommodate 240 convicted prisoners.“We hope to offer skills training in agricul-ture, masonry, carpentry and tailoring, toname a few,” says Sam Tarley, Director ofthe National Palace of Corrections.

The National Palace of Corrections islocated some five kilometres outsideZwedru city. Close to the high prisonwalls, tented accommodation is beingerected for UNMIL’s Jordanian FormedPolice Unit, which will support theLiberian National Police to reinforce secu-rity at the facility. The cell doors are regu-lation steel bars, and each cell holdsbetween only one to three prisoners. It isthe most modern of all of Liberia’s pris-ons, with separate blocks for men, women,juveniles, and high risk offenders.

Juveniles, though, should not be in thesame detention centres as adults.According to Marjo Callaghan, head ofCAU, juvenile offenders fall under theMinistry of Health and Social Welfare.“Since there are no other facilities to housethem, they get sent to prison. It is a horri-ble situation in all counties,” she says.

That, among other concerns, is high onthe reform agenda. “UNMIL has commis-sioned a task force to see what we can doalong with UNICEF to re-establish thejuvenile justice system,” Callaghaninforms. Meanwhile, the best that can bedone is to segregate juvenile offendersfrom the adults in the available facilities.

The challenges involved in building acorrection and rehabilitation system fromscratch are many and UNMIL’s CAU istaking an incremental approach. “Thetraining is based on the rights of the indi-vidual,” says Callaghan. “It is a mentoringprogramme. It involves a three-monthtraining at the academy, and then we fol-low the staff's progress for almost a year inthe field. We are trying to teach staff howto treat prisoners humanely.”

The growing success of UNMIL’s cor-

rections reform programme has beenrecognised with the InternationalCorrections and Prisons Association’sManagement and Training Award last year.“Our programme’s benchmark is to haveone detention facility in each county. Wehave refurbished ten centres in nine coun-ties,” Callaghan points out.

Paucity of funds is the biggest obstaclefacing the programme. “We don't haveenough funding. We received over a mil-lion dollars. Our two big supporters are theU.S. and Norway. There are funds comingfrom Canada, UNMIL QIP, UNHCR,ICRC and others. Everything is a jointeffort,” says Callaghan, stressing theimportance of working closely with otherpartners.

German Agro Action has providedfarming and other equipment, and is sup-porting cassava farming. The Food andAgriculture Organisation is offering tech-nical advice, farm inputs such as seeds andis assisting in developing a vegetable farmby providing skills training in agriculture.The International Committee of the RedCross is engaged in projects to ensure theavailability of water and proper sanitation.Other organisations involved includePrison Fellowship, which does HIV/AIDStraining, and Mercy Ships, Merlin and UNmilitary contingents, which often providemuch needed medical care through fre-quent visits to the prisons.

Wages for prisons staff pose yet anoth-er challenge. Corrections officers receiveUS $30 a month during training, and arepaid US$ 90 a month after they graduate.All the officers UNMIL FOCUS spokewith say they are happy with their jobs butthey feel the monthly wage does not ade-quately help them deal with the hardshipsand limitations they face. “But afterall, itis our country. If we do not do the job, whowill?” asks Zohn Clarideh, a trainee offi-cer in Zwedru.

Such a shift in the attitude may sounda small success but its impact is huge onthe long road to building a correctionalsystem in Liberia that meets minimuminternational standards and treats prisonershumanely.

Rebecca Bannor-Addae contributed tothis report.

Nee

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NM

IL


By Sulaiman Momodu

Come rainy season, Liberiainvariably faces cholera out-breaks that often claim sev-eral lives. Frantic efforts thatfollow succeed to contain

the spread of the disease but it is only atransient victory. The next rainy seasoncholera is back again with a vengeance.This year is no exception.

The Ministry of Health (MOH), WorldHealth Organisation (WHO), UNICEF,and some non-governmental organisa-tions, such as MSF-Belgium, have beenbattling to put under control the epidemicthat broke out in September leaving hun-dreds of patients admitted to the CholeraTreatment Unit (CTU) at the main John F.Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia.

Cholera is a virulent disease charac-terised by sudden and acute watery diar-

rhoea, which in severe cases can causedeath by dehydration and kidney failurewithin hours. Entry to the 125-bed CTU,isolated from other wards, is highlyrestricted. Each bed in CTU is speciallydesigned with a big hole in the middle.The smell of chlorine fills the air.

One day in late September there were51 suspected cases of cholera admitted tothe CTU. Earlier in the day 15 patients hadbeen discharged. Some of the patients

Confronting CholeraAppalling sanitary conditions contribute to cholera outbreaks

September - November UNMIL FOCUS 15

were severely dehydrated, reduced to merebones and sunken eyes. “I am feeling oknow. The frequent stools and vomitinghave stopped,” said one of the patientswho explained that he was taken to theunit almost at the point of death.

MOH authorities say over 900 suspect-ed cholera cases have been reported, mostof them in early October. Although it is notclear how many people might have losttheir lives as not all cases reach the CTU,Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Health whois also the chief medical officer, Dr.Bernice Dahn, says five deaths have beenrecorded. Three reportedly died beforereaching the hospital, while the two thatwere in very critical condition died of thedisease at the CTU.

But for emergency preparations byactors in the health sector, the diseasewould have taken a huge toll. “Usually wehave diarrhoea outbreaks during the begin-ning of the rainy season. This year we pre-pared for an emergency. Fortunately, itdidn’t happen so we thought we were notgoing to have diarrhoea this year. Then,unfortunately for us, during the middle ofthe rains, we started having floods, so thewells got contaminated and we started see-ing cases of watery diarrhoea,” Dahnexplains.

So far, the counties affected by the out-break are Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand CapeMount, Maryland, Nimba and Sinoe withover 85 per cent of cases reported fromMontserrado County (Monrovia and its

environs). The cholera hotspots inMonrovia are Central Monrovia, BushrodIsland, West Point, Sinkor, Paynesville,Gardensville and Congo Town.

Outbreak in some of these areas hadbeen exacerbated by appalling sanitaryconditions, compounded by the recentflooding during which poorly maintainedwater wells were contaminated whenexcrement from latrines emptied intowater sources used for drinking and otherdomestic purposes. Overcrowding inslums, lack of access to safe water andsanitation, improper food preparation andhandling, unsafe hygiene practices, popu-lation movement as a result of the war, andlack of access to health services duringoutbreaks are other factors that contribut-

ing to the spread of the disease. With the rainy season lasting nearly

half the year, Liberia has no dearth ofwater. Ironically, one of the greatest chal-lenges the country faces is the lack of safedrinking water, exposing people to choleraand other diseases. On the streets ofMonrovia and other big towns, vendorsselling cold water in plastic bags are acommon sight. MOH officials admit that itis difficult to deal with petty traders whosell water from unknown sources in plasticbags.

Since MOH does not have the capaci-ty to handle the myriad health problems inthe country, UN agencies and humanitari-an organisations have stepped in. Theyhave now formed a multi-sectoral taskforce that addresses diarrhoea issues.

Dr. Peter Clement of WHO says theUN agency is working closely with theMinistry and have stocks of cholera kitswhich are usually mobilised as the needarises. The organisation generally assistswith disease surveillance in the countryand has provided motorbikes to surveil-lance officers in all the 15 counties,enabling the MOH and partners to getprompt reports on diseases. WHO has alsoprovided reagents to test samples in addi-tion to helping strengthen the country’sreferral system.

In addition to the ongoing manage-ment of suspected cases at the CTU, pre-ventive interventions to chase the diseaseaway include awareness messages beingaired on UNMIL Radio and other local sta-tions. Already about 430 wells had beenchlorinated and phase two of this exerciseis in progress. Although efforts to containthe outbreak continue, water and sanita-tion issues remain a major challenge to beaddressed. “If Liberia has to get out ofcholera, the infrastructure must be there,”Dr. Clement points out.

For her part, Deputy Minister Dahnsays the Health Ministry will be workinghard with all stakeholders to ensure thatthe disease does not occur come next year.With humanitarian assistance to Liberiadwindling, including next year’s expectedpull-out of MSF-Belgium, which is help-ing with the treatment of suspected choleracases, “prevention now,” she says, “is bet-ter than waiting for the disease to occur.”

WWiitthh tthhee rraaiinnyy sseeaassoonn llaassttiinnggnneeaarrllyy hhaallff tthhee yyeeaarr,, LLiibbeerriiaahhaass nnoo ddeeaarrtthh ooff wwaatteerr..IIrroonniiccaallllyy,, oonnee ooff tthhee ggrreeaatt-eesstt cchhaalllleennggeess tthhee ccoouunnttrryyffaacceess iiss tthhee llaacckk ooff ssaaffeeddrriinnkkiinngg wwaatteerr eexxppoossiinnggppeeooppllee ttoo cchhoolleerraa aanndd ootthheerrddiisseeaasseess.. OOnn tthhee ssttrreeeettss ooffMMoonnrroovviiaa aanndd ootthheerr bbiiggttoowwnnss,, vveennddoorrss sseelllliinngg ccoollddwwaatteerr iinn ppllaassttiicc bbaaggss aarree aaccoommmmoonn ssiigghhtt..

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Three-month-old Patience isseverely malnourished. Thelittle girl’s big brown eyes areset in a sunken face, and herclothes hang from her small

bony frame. Brought by her mother to atherapeutic feeding centre in Virginia,Montserrado County, the frail-lookingbaby immediately receives a systematictreatment of folic acid, antibiotics and acheck for malaria. But for this critical helpfrom the feeding centre, Patience may nothave survived her first birthday.

Patience is among the many acutelymalnourished children, some of them suf-fering from various illnesses, who arebrought to the feeding centre almost daily.“Most of the children have malaria sincetheir immune system has completely bro-ken down,” says Cynthia Siapha, one ofthe two physicians at the centre. A numberof children also suffer from tuberculosis.In addition to providing systematic treat-ment, the centre also delivers general med-ical assistance. The children also receive aprotein-rich milk blend called F100 toencourage rapid weight gain.

Liberia is one of the most impover-ished countries in the world. Close to 40per cent of children under the age of fiveare stunted or too short for their age as aresult of chronic malnutrition. Nearlyseven per cent of Liberia’s children sufferfrom acute malnutrition.

The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) supports seven therapeutic

feeding centres and special nutritionalunits in four counties of Liberia. TheVirginia centre is run by a local NGO, Aidfor the Needy Development Programme(ANDP). In 2006 the centre admitted 690acutely malnourished children below theage of five while providing supplementaryfeeding to more than 1,300 moderatelymalnourished children in surroundinglocations.

The ward at the Virginia feeding centreis airy and clean - a simple open dormito-ry with mosquito nets suspended from theceiling and mattresses on the floor. A radioplays music and mothers nurse their babiesor chat to one another. “We have a bigproblem with high numbers of teenagemothers in Liberia. They don’t know howto take care of their children and most aresingle mothers. Many of them don’tbreastfeed. We teach them the importanceof breastfeeding,” says the Director of thecentre, William Dakel. “Poverty has manyfaces and education is what these youngmothers need. It will take some time buteventually the message will spread.”

Malnutrition is caused by improper orinsufficient diet. Contaminated water sup-ply as well as poor hygiene and sanitationpractices are also contributing factors.Children are generally more vulnerable todiarrhoea, and repeated or persistent diar-rhoea makes their bodies unable to absorbessential nutrients from food. In extremecases, malnutrition can cause irreversiblebrain damage, muscle and tissue deficien-cy, and blindness.

Liberia’s government, in collaboration

MalnourishedChildren BattleLegacy of War


with a number of partners includingUNICEF, the Food and AgriculturalOrganisation of the United Nations (FAO)and the World Food Programme (WFP),published the Comprehensive FoodInsecurity and Nutrition Survey in late2006. The survey revealed that theLiberian population is still highly affectedby the consequences of the civil war thatleft the country with a destroyed infra-structure and a devastated economy.

Today more than 75 per cent ofLiberians survive on less than US$ 1 a day.In 1998 the figure was 55 per cent and theincrease is indisputably a consequence of

the 14-year conflict. “No doubt that thewar further compounded the already exist-ing problem of inadequate nutrition for alarge part of the population,” says JestinaBardue-Johnson, Nutrition Focal Point atthe Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.“One major problem is access to roads. Aswe speak, it is close to impossible to reachsouth-eastern Liberia by road. People havelimited access to markets, to selling andbuying. Most people do not have sufficientaccess to health clinics and parents usual-ly don’t bring in the malnourished childbefore it is almost too late.”

However, apart from high food insecu-rity being a contributing factor to malnu-trition, another underlying cause is lowformal education levels. “If we are to turnthings around, access to education needsto be improved,” says Ralph Midy,UNICEF Health Officer. “We need to edu-cate parents on homecare and the impor-tance of a balanced diet. Unfortunatelynumerous myths surround the issue ofmalnutrition.”

Parents often blame the pot bellies, thediscolouration of the hair, the swollenbody or the skeleton-look on mischievousspirits. “The child is a victim of witchcraft,they lament, and often parents will trybreaking the spell by seeking traditionaltreatment. Coming to the centre is usuallytheir last attempt,” says Dakel.

The feeding centre in Virginia has ascreening team that goes into communitiesto identify malnourished children and theirfamilies. More than 85 per cent of admis-sions to the centre are due to efforts by thisscreening team. If the mother is convincedof the acuteness of her child’s condition,both mother and child will be admitted foran average duration of 26 days.

In late September Michael Clarkebrought his eight-month-old daughterPrincess to the feeding centre. He is one ofthe few fathers accompanying their mal-nourished children. “She was so small,almost half of her normal weight. She wasvery sick and her skin was hard, it waspeeling, and she had a running stomach,”says the father. Today Princess is astonish-ingly alert and playful. Shortly the littlegirl will be back in her community. “Wedo a lot of counselling. I encourage theparents to find the root cause for theirchild’s poor health. It is important theyknow the severity of neglect before theyare discharged. We don’t want to see thechildren return,” says physician Siapha.

If moderately malnourished childrenare not assisted their case will becomesevere. Apart from identifying acute cases,the screening team issues referral slips forsupplementary feeding to parents withmoderately malnourished children. At adistribution point a few miles from thecentre, mothers line up three times a weekto receive rations of F100. They are alsogiven Vitamin A, folic acid, iron and de-worming tablets. The mothers receiveadvice on how basic hygiene practicessuch as using latrines and washing handswith soap can make a difference.

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History was made whenLiberia’s Ellen JohnsonSirleaf became the firstfemale elected head of statein Africa. She came to

power in a climate deeply fractured by 14years of civil war fought not only withguns but also with sexual violence as anadditional weapon. Determined to reversethe plight of Liberia’s women, who borethe brunt of the prolonged civil war,Sirleaf, a strong advocate of human rightsfor all, pledged on her inauguration thatwomen would play an important role inthe reconstruction of the country.

Following a period of interim policies,the government of Liberia is embarking ona five-year national agenda -- the PovertyReduction Strategy (PRS) 2008-2012. Anintegral component of the PRS, estab-lished in anticipation of meeting theMillennium Development Goals, is goalnumber 3: Promote gender equality andempower women.

As the new national agenda, the PRSintegrates objectives to ensure that womentoo participate in the process of develop-ment. For instance, all data-collecting sur-veys need to be gender sensitive in designand implementation. The PRS aims toenforce international conventions, and theinvestment climate is being restructured toinclude guidelines and policies taking gen-der issues into consideration. Factories, forexample, must employ a certain percent-age of women and offer childcare facili-

ties. But why is it important to strengthen

the role of women in post-conflict Liberia?“The eye alone cannot make it. The handalone cannot make it. If you want the bodyto move forward, the feet need to movetoo,” says Zeor Daylue Bernard, VicePresident of the Association of FemaleLawyers of Liberia (AFELL), an organisa-tion formed during the early years of the

war with the initial aim to assist disadvan-taged women. “If we exclude half of thepopulation from the development process,where are we going then? We’re goingnowhere.”

Recently the government together withthe UN Gender Theme Group, composedof UNIFEM, UNMIL and the World Bank,amongst others, initiated countrywideworkshops on gender mainstreaming.County Superintendents, County GenderCoordinators and representatives from

DDeetteerrmmiinneedd ttoo rreevveerrssee tthheepplliigghhtt ooff LLiibbeerriiaa’’ss wwoommeenn,,wwhhoo bboorree tthhee bbrruunntt ooff tthheepprroolloonnggeedd cciivviill wwaarr,,PPrreessiiddeenntt JJoohhnnssoonn SSiirrlleeaaffpplleeddggeedd oonn hheerr iinnaauugguurraa-ttiioonn tthhaatt wwoommeenn wwoouulldd ppllaayyaann iimmppoorrttaanntt rroollee iinn tthheerreeccoonnssttrruuccttiioonn ooff tthhee ccoouunn-ttrryy..

WhyGender?


women’s groups gathered to enhance theirknowledge on how to integrate gender inthe upcoming phases of formulating devel-opment plans and policies.

“This workshop deepens my under-standing of gender mainstreaming. Wecome from a discriminatory past but it isclear that if we are to achieve progressivedevelopment it will be essential to inte-grate all partners of society,” says IsaacWea Hne Wilson, Gender Coordinator ofMaryland County. For two days the work-shop participants engaged in lively discus-sions and there was plenty of laughter asthey explored and dissolved myths regard-ing the role of men and women in society.

“Mainstreaming gender is not just anissue concerning women and girls. Itmeans that both women and men benefitequally from all policies and activities atall levels of society. Men and boys can beexploited and abused as well,” says partic-

ipant Helena Torh-Turu, a representativefrom SEWODA, a women’s group insouth-eastern Liberia.

Achieving gender equality in Liberia isa step-by-step process. President Sirleafhas placed women in key ministerial posi-tions. A girls’ education policy has beendeveloped to ensure that girls and boyshave equal opportunity for education.Efforts are made to recruit women into thepolice and the armed forces, and in 2006the inheritance law came into effectremoving discriminatory practices againstwomen married under customary law. Theupcoming PRS includes strategies tomainstream gender in all developmentplans and the government, together withUNMIL, UN agencies and several NGOs,continues to campaign for the empower-ment of women.

However, gender equality and empow-erment of women cannot be achieved if

sexual and gender-based violence in thecountry is not dramatically reduced. Suchviolence was a major feature of the waraffecting the majority of women and girlsin Liberia. According to surveys conduct-ed by the World Health Organization(WHO) in 2004 and 2005 among 1,628women and girls in six of Liberia’s 15counties, more than 90 per cent said theyhad been subjected to some form of sexu-al violence during the war. Another WHOsurvey in 2006 among 1,200 women andgirls in four additional counties showedthat 82 per cent had been subjected to oneor multiple acts of sexual violence duringthe war.

“Sexual and gender-based violence isfuelled by culture, tradition and religion;treating women as chattel; and the war inLiberia most definitely compoundedeverything creating an environment ofimpunity,” says Joana Foster, UNMILSenior Gender Advisor.

To reverse this trend, Liberia in 2005passed one of West Africa’s toughest rapelaws. Women and Children ProtectionSections have been established to tackleabuses and crimes against the disadvan-taged. Despite such efforts evidence sug-gests that sexual and gender-based vio-lence is still rampant. Currently rape andother sexual offences top the list of crimesreported to the Liberian police.

UNMIL, together with the governmentand UN agencies, recently released a 3-year joint programme to prevent andrespond to sexual and gender-based vio-lence in Liberia. The programme is a con-certed effort to support the PRS genderstrategies and boost progress of theNational Gender-based Violence Plan ofAction initiated by the government inNovember 2006.

“The struggles of the past might verywell have strengthened Liberia’s womenand have ensured that they no longer suf-fer from a crisis of confidence and feelingsof inadequacy,” says Signe AllimadiOloya, Country Programme Manager ofUNIFEM, referring to the war years thatforced women to become breadwinners asmen were in hiding or fighting. “Yet, whenit comes to sexual and gender-based vio-lence, Liberia’s women look set for a longstruggle.”

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Eric

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UN

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It was at a critical time that you came toLiberia -- just as the elections wereabout to take place. What were themajor challenges you faced?

The most important challenge was tocomplete the transition as envisaged in theAccra Comprehensive Peace Agreement.Quite a lot of progress had already beenmade; in particular the disarmament pro-gramme had been largely completed. Themost immediate task was the elections.When I arrived preparations had begunand I was particularly concerned to ensurethat the elections were carried out in a freeand fair manner, consistent with UNrequirements and acceptable to the peopleof Liberia as well as the international com-munity.

We also had to handle the security sit-uation before, during and especially afterthe elections. The situation became quitetense as one of the two candidates whocontested the second round of the electionsdidn’t initially accept the outcome. Thesituation had to be managed in a way thatthe results of the elections were respectedbut at the same time ensuring that thosewho did not succeed were not totally alien-ated.

It was a very critical moment. Therewas no significant breakdown of law andorder although there were a number ofincidents that we were able to contain andcontrol. Our forces, military and police,acted and behaved in a very effective andprofessional manner.

Then, of course, we had to prepare forthe inauguration, which was a major event,and to make sure that it was peaceful andviolence-free. There were many securityconcerns because we had an array of VIPsfrom all over the world, including a num-ber of Heads of State and the First Lady ofthe United States.

After that we wanted to ensure that thenew Administration had the time andspace to get itself organized. That’s neveran easy task in any country. In Liberia, acountry just emerging from many years ofwar, with a tightly contested election, itwas a process of transition that needed tobe steered carefully.

Experience shows that it takes manyyears of international support for therecovery of a post-conflict nation. Doyou foresee a premature withdrawal ofUN peacekeepers from Liberia as hashappened elsewhere?

I certainly hope not. The SecurityCouncil is very mindful of the situationhere. While we’ve made a lot of progress,this is still quite a fragile country that willneed support for sometime to come. Thesecurity forces of Liberia are being devel-oped, trained and deployed. That’s notgoing to be completed in a few months orso. So UNMIL will have to remain here ina fairly strong posture until such time thatthose forces are ready to takeover.

Obviously, this can’t be an open-endedcommitment. We have to work togetherwith our partners and, above all, theGovernment of Liberia, to ensure that thecountry has the capacity to handle thesecurity situation. We’ll continue to moni-tor and track progress and report back tothe Security Council on developments aswe go forward.

How will Liberia benefit from thePeacebuilding Commission?

As we speak, we are developing a pro-posal for the Peace Building Fund underthe direction of Deputy SpecialRepresentative Jordan Ryan. We intend topresent that proposal to Headquarters veryshortly, after discussion and agreement

with the government and partners.We expect to get some resources from

the Fund to continue and expand the workon reconciliation at the national and locallevels. We also want to focus on the unfin-ished tasks of reintegration. Manyrefugees have returned home. We alsohave former combatants and communitieswho were displaced. There’s still a lot ofwork to be done in that area. In parallelwith the effort we are making in the secu-rity sector, we must also strengthen therule of law in Liberia, and that covers anumber of concerns: the criminal justicesystem, protection of rights, law reform,corrections and so on.

After many years of devastating con-flict, Liberia now has a functioning butfragile democracy. What needs to bedone to strengthen democracy inLiberia?

For the first time in the history of thecountry political power is not monopo-lized by one individual or one small group.That is an important and welcome devel-opment but it poses a lot of challenges.How to cope with political diversity is asingular and demanding responsibility,which doesn’t fall exclusively on thePresident or her cabinet. So it’s reallyabout deepening the democratic process inLiberia and that involves a number ofdimensions such as the devolution ofpower and constitutional reform.

Strengthening the political parties isimportant so that they’re not simply par-ties created for an election which then dis-appear. They should have some continuityand articulate the views and ideas of theirmembers. Strengthening the Legislature toensure that it plays its role in the system ofgovernment is equally important. A strongcivil society and media are other actorswho have to play a major role in the polit-ical process as part of the democratic sys-tem.

Democracy is more than an election.The political process should not end afteran election. Governments come and go.Whether you are in or out of office, youshould still be able to participate in the

The Message is Always the Same: Peace!IN CONVERSATION: ALAN DOSS

AAfftteerr hheeaaddiinngg UUNNMMIILL dduurriinngg aa ccrruucciiaall ppeerriioodd ooff ttrraannssiittiioonn,,SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthhee SSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall AAllaann DDoossssmmoovveess ttoo tthhee DDeemmooccrraattiicc RReeppuubblliicc ooff CCoonnggoo iinn tthhee ssaammeeccaappaacciittyy.. IInn aann iinntteerrvviieeww wwiitthh EEddiittoorr MMaatthheewwEEllaavvaannaalltthhoodduukkaa,, tthhee oouuttggooiinngg UUNN eennvvooyy ttaakkeess ssttoocckk ooff hhiissttiimmee iinn LLiibbeerriiaa..



political process.

Ever since the deployment of peace-keepers in 2003, Liberia has beensteadily consolidating peace andUNMIL has been a success story. Whatis the secret behind this success? Canthis be a model elsewhere?

First, I hesitate to claim success whena mission is not yet complete. It’s too earlyto declare victory. There’s still a lot ofwork to be done. So let’s be cautious andcertainly not complacent.

That being said, yes, there have beensome successes and that is due to the hardwork of all concerned. Success in thesesituations is never exclusively linked toone factor. Here in Liberia, regional actorssuch as ECOWAS and African Union haveplayed a very important and constructiverole. Bilateral partners like the UnitedStates and other multilateral organizationssuch as the EU have been essential. And ofcourse the UN Security Council has artic-ulated and coordinated the indispensablepolitical and material support of the inter-national community to back up the AccraAgreement. The fact that we were able toobtain sufficient resources to have a robust

security presence has been criticalfor the Mission. We

have had themeans to dothe job.That wasextremelyimportant.

At theend of theday, how-ever, itc a m edown to

t h e

Liberians. They were ready for peace and,as a result, the Accra Peace Agreementwas largely implemented successfully.

Without that essential element, the truedesire for peace, which came after manyyears of failed peace agreements, it wouldhave been impossible to make the progresswe have witnessed. There is no substitutefor national will. However, much the inter-national community tries, it always needsthat fundamental political compromiseamong national actors that makes lastingpeace possible.

The transition was not trouble free.There were some initial missteps on disar-mament. Transitional Government itselfhad serious problems with economic man-agement, which led to the Governance andEconomic Management AssistanceProgramme (GEMAP). But politically, thetransition was a success in the sense that itled to free and fair elections. And thoseelections in turn produced a President whohas been willing to engage and push for-ward very energetically with a much need-ed programme of national reform andrenewal.

Is UNMIL a model? Well, modelsalways have to be adapted to the contextwhere they are to be applied althoughthere are some experiences that could beof use elsewhere. I think the level of inte-gration within the Mission and our out-reach to partners has been very good.We’ve understood that many of the prob-lems the country faces can’t be solved inisolation. For example we have to dealwith security not only as a police or mili-tary issue but more broadly within the ruleof law and the concept of human security.We’ve understood the importance of eco-nomic reform as a complement to what weare doing with security reform. GEMAPhas been successful but it would not haveworked without commitment from theLiberian government.

UNMIL has been a cooperativeendeavour in the full sense of that

phrase and we see the results.Peace agreements don’t necessar-ily make peace. We have to build

on the opportunities present-ed. To quote Shakespeare,“There is a tide in the affairsof men, which, taken at the

flood, leads on to fortune.”

That has certainly been the case here.

You are now moving to the DemocraticRepublic of Congo, which is also facingmany complex challenges. Will this beyour most challenging assignment?

Well, I haven’t got there yet. So you’llhave to ask me that question in a fewmonths’ time. Every peacekeeping mis-sion, every country, presents its chal-lenges, big or small.

I know that there are complex chal-lenges especially right now in the easternpart of the country, where conflict is stilltaking place and there are massive human-itarian problems and human rights con-cerns. Protection of civilians is a greatworry. MONUC is currently the largestmission in the world but the Congo is avery large country faced with dauntingproblems.

But there has been progress, too. Withthe UN’s help, they had successful nation-al elections, the first time ever. Many peo-ple have returned home. There are signs ofeconomic renewal.

Wherever you go in peacekeepingthere are challenges; that’s the nature ofthe business. That’s what we do.

What message do you have for the peo-ple of Liberia?

The message is always the same --peace! Without peace, without stability,the rest won’t follow. The country needsinvestment, growth and jobs. Withoutgrowth and jobs, there won’t be stabilityand without stability, there will be no last-ing peace and reconciliation.

Finding ways to overcome conflict andto adjudicate differences in a non-violentmanner is absolutely indispensable. Thatwill require strengthening the institutionsof the State, in particular those that areresponsible for the rule of law, includingthe Liberian National Police. It meansensuring the security services are effectiveand efficient but also responsible andaccountable, and protect people, notrepress them.

Finally the economic tide is beginningto flow in Africa’s favour, particularly thispart of Africa. The opportunities are there.A few years of stability and good gover-nance will make a big difference. But thatcan’t happen unless there’s a genuinedesire to learn from the past, to work hardand to move forward.



More than half a millionLiberians have returnedhome from camps forthe internally displacedpersons and from

refugee camps in neighbouring countriessince the14-year civil war came to an endin 2003. While some returned voluntarily,many others were assisted by the UNrefugee agency, UNHCR.

Although the returnees are happy to beback in familiar surroundings, for many ofthem “home” is not yet a reality. Given thebrutality of the prolonged war, numerousreturnees have found their homes burneddown or looted beyond recognition.Besides, due to their long absences, manyfamilies have discovered that the land andproperty that once belonged to them arealready occupied by other citizens equallydesperate to resettle.

Housing, land and property disputesare common in post-conflict countries. Itis essential to address issues of propertyrights to avoid igniting possible tensionand thus endangering the hard-won peace.As the civil war in Liberia left Stateauthority weak, and in the absence of ade-quate and functioning police and judicialsystems, UNMIL Civil Affairs section ini-tiated a mechanism to peacefully resolvedisputes over illegal occupation of proper-ty.

“Courts were not functioning, therewere no magistrates and no mediationstructures in place. In the absence of allthese we established Housing and PropertyCommittees in each of the 15 counties,”says Civil Affairs Officer AdrianoCassandra. The Housing and PropertyCommittees included the county superin-tendent, elders, traditional leaders, repre-sentatives from women and youth groupsas well as representatives from UNHCRand UNMIL. “The committees were large-ly successful in creating a space wherepeople could voice their claims and be lis-tened to. The committee members weretasked with mediating in a fair and trans-parent manner. Many property disputeswere resolved peacefully that way,” recallsCassandra.

Although several disputes have beenresolved through the Housing and

Property Committees, there is still much tobe done. “Land and property disputes arewidespread. Hundreds of new cases arecoming into the courts everyday and thereis not sufficient capacity to deal with thesituation,” says Ernest C. B. Jones, DeputyMinister for Operations at the Ministry ofLand, Mines and Energy.

The Land, Mines and Energy Ministryis concerned mainly with surveying andmapping and does not have the mandate toregulate land distribution. “There is reallyno single agency of government responsi-ble for land management,” says Jones.“Who gets what parcel of land and forwhat purpose is at random. You see a

vacant plot and go to the tribal people orthe township people who then agree towhether you can settle amongst them. If soagreed, you go through the deed processeventually ending with presidentialapproval. It has always been like this or, tobe more precise, since the 1850s.”

Another legislated method of acquir-ing land is by way of the tribal land grant.The deed of this communal grant is usual-ly vested with the chiefs and the respectivecommunities. Individuals or families arethen allocated a plot for farming but willnot hold a title. Currently only 20 per centof Liberian farmers have deeds to theiragricultural land mainly due to the tradi-

Where is


tion of communal land holding.The parallel systems of obtaining land

ownership or land accessibility are notcoordinated and Jones admits that thisarrangement is susceptible to corruption.The intricacy is compounded in the post-conflict environment of Liberia where alarge segment of the population wasuprooted and forced to resettle in otherareas breaking with generational ties.

Many returnees have flocked to urbancentres in search of jobs. The populationof the capital, Monrovia, has more thanquadrupled since 1989 when the conflictbroke out. Today an estimated 1.5 millionpeople scramble for space. Thousands of

people live as squatters in abandonedbuildings and makeshift structures built onpublic land.

Ganta city, the commercial hub ofNimba County, faces a similar predica-ment with a large influx of people. “WhenI came back, my three properties wereoccupied by others,” says Mohammed B.Keita, who returned to Ganta in 2005 withhis wife and six children after living in arefugee camp in Guinea for several years.“We came back with a sack of bulgurwheat, a can of cooking oil, mats to sleepon and US$5 for each returnee. Wethought we were going home. But where ishome? Everything was gone.”

Keita belongs to the Mandingo tribe,one of the three main ethnic groups inNimba County. During the war they sup-ported opposing factions and Nimba expe-rienced some of the fiercest fighting. Tensof thousands of people fled to neighbour-ing Guinea.

Tensions over land ownership in Gantaled to riots among the three ethnic groupslast year. Responding to the riots,President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf created a17-member committee headed by theMinister of Internal Affairs to investigatethe incident and make recommendations.

The committee found that the majorityof disputes were concentrated in the centreof Ganta city along the main commercialstreets and recommended that existingstreets be widened and more streets creat-ed for commercial activity. “I feel thatadditional streets could help defuse theproblem since the disputes in essenceevolve around access to areas of businessexchange,” says Superintendent for Nimbacounty, Robert Kamei. “But settling theland dispute in Ganta is a gradual process.Of course disputed land will eventuallyhave to be given back to the rightful docu-ment holding owners.”

Keita holds legal entitlements to histhree properties. His case is one out of 108disputes in Ganta identified by the 17-member special committee. With the assis-tance of the committee, Keita recentlyretrieved one of his properties. “This is ahappy day for my family and me,” saysKeita with a broad smile.

While the government is continuingthe process of restoring State authority,including the establishment of adequateand functioning police and judicial struc-tures, Jones encourages the expansion ofurban centres: “It is in the cities that wefind the majority of land disputes. There isno quick fix solution, but by expanding thecities, adding more land, building newstreets, we can reduce the potential for ten-sion. However, eventually we need toreform land administration altogether,”says Jones.

UNMIL engineers are currently work-ing with local government authorities towiden and expand the road network inGanta city. But the road to resolving theland disputes in Liberia by no means is ashort one.

Home?Land and property disputes are potential threats to peace

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By Sulaiman Momodu

Where is home?

Mariama Kamara and herson abandoned by hisfather are soon gettingone. For the 26-year oldreturnee, it is like the

light at the end of the tunnel. But her jour-ney this far has been nothing but nightmar-ish.

With her father killed during the war,the only person that she knew was hermother, who was also killed when warbroke out in Côte d'Ivoire where they hadsought refuge. Left alone to strugglethrough life, she sought refuge in a campin Guinea where she had a childwith a man who soon aban-doned her. “I was small whenme and my ma left Liberia,” sherecalls.

Returning to war-ravagedVoinjama in Lofa County,Kamara lives in a dilapidatedstructure on the bushy outskirtsof the town. It is the only placeshe could get upon her returnfrom exile in Guinea where shehad lived for many years as arefugee. When she is away fromher ‘home’ to somehow eke outa living, rogues break in andtake away her little possessions.They don’t spare even the food meant forher child. “My nobody no here, I dependon the UN to help me,” she laments.

But Kamara has hopes of a betterfuture as she is among some 200 familiesthat are benefiting from a UNHCR-fundedshelter programme in Lofa County. Aspart of its reintegration activities, therefugee agency’s shelter programme catersfor vulnerable returnees by providing atwo-room structure per family with PeaceWinds Japan (PWJ) as the implementingpartner.

“Our coverage areas are Voinjama,Foya, Kolahun districts. Beneficiaries arereturnees from Guinea and Sierra Leone,”says PWJ Field Coordinator Maho Miura.

Based on a list prepared by the refugeeagency, PWJ distributes shelter materialsand monitors the construction. Althoughall returnees are generally considered to bevulnerable, some single parents, physical-ly disabled, and unaccompanied elderlyare worst off.

The shelter assistance mainly includesthree bundles of zinc, nails and othermaterials. Returnees receive the itemsafter proving that they have erected thewalls made of mud bricks. Usually, com-munities are encouraged to assist in theconstruction of houses for their own kithand kin. “We don’t want to kill the com-munity initiative,” a UNHCR officialnotes. As her situation is desperate,

Kamara had to provide only the piece ofland on which to build. Another 19 fami-lies have been earmarked for such assis-tance.

UNHCR-funded shelter assistance toreturnees has been going on since 2004with PWJ implementing in Lofa and Bongcounties. “It is sometimes difficult to getthe cooperation of the community to assistbut we have Shelter committees in thecommunities,” PWJ’s Miura points out.There have also been instances of someunscrupulous people impersonating asPWJ workers and demanding registrationfees for shelter assistance from unsuspect-ing returnees. Communities have beeninformed that nobody pays for the assis-

tance and that anybody who claims to be aPWJ worker should present an identifica-tion card. The deplorable road conditionspose yet another difficulty to easily reachthe beneficiaries. Notwithstanding thesechallenges, shelter assistance for this yearis scheduled to be completed in December.

The UN refugee agency has assisted111,466 refugees to return home including51,263 from Guinea; 29,533 from SierraLeone; 21,543 from Côte d'Ivoire; 6,655from Ghana; 2,136 from Nigeria and 316from other countries. About 50,032returned on their own or spontaneously.The majority of returnees went to Lofa(60,689), Montserrado (12,824), Nimba(10,079) and Maryland (10,018). The

refugee agency has also assist-ed 325,530 former internallydisplaced persons to returnhome.

Hundreds of returnees havebuilt modest houses withUNHCR assistance, especiallyin areas that saw heavy returns.It is not clear how long the shel-ter assistance programme willcontinue. PWJ, which had alsoprovided shelter assistance toreturnees from Japanese funds,no longer has funds for shelterprogrammes. UNHCR intendsto continue the assistance butcontingent on the availability of

funds. In addition to shelter, the refugeeagency assists in areas like the rehabilita-tion of schools, agriculture activities, clin-ics, and water and sanitation.

Notwithstanding the enormous chal-lenges of starting life anew, manyreturnees say they are grateful to UNMILfor the restoration of peace and for ensur-ing that they can walk freely without thefear of being killed. “Once there is life,there is hope,” notes one returnee ratherphilosophically.

As the construction of her home con-tinues, Kamara could not hide her joy.When will she move into her new home?“Now now sef, if the house is complete, Iready to move in.”

The Quest for Shelter

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The United Nations andhumanitarian partners inLiberia have launched theMid-Year Review of the 2007Common Humanitarian

Action Plan (CHAP) aimed at raisingUS$64million for urgent humanitarian pri-orities in Liberia.

The CHAP Mid-Year Review is anupdate of Liberia’s CommonHumanitarian Action Plan 2007. It is alsoan outcome of a review process, includinga stakeholder workshop that was held inJuly, examining strategic priorities, objec-tives and resourcerequirements for humani-tarian assistance in 2007.

Liberia’s 2007CHAP, with an originalestimate of US$117 mil-lion, was slightlyreduced to US$110 mil-lion to address the coun-try’s humanitarian for thereminder of 2007. So far,US$46 million has beenraised leaving an out-standing requirement ofUS$64 million for therest of the year.

Speaking at thelaunch in early November, Deputy SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-GeneralJordan Ryan, who is also the HumanitarianCoordinator for Liberia, said the countrystill faces many humanitarian challengesdespite some improvements in political,security and the socio-economic condi-tions.

“There is limited government capacityto provide basic social services,” Ryansaid. “We even have capacity challenges -especially in the health sector - with theearly phase-out or drawdown of someemergency NGOs. Although this is under-standable, it poses additional challenges inthe transition.”

The funding needs identified in themid-year review aim to promote greateraccess to basic social services for vulnera-

ble populations; provide support for com-munities to become sustainable, secureand productive; and to strengthen thecapacity of civil society and local authori-ties to support the recovery process.Priority will be given to projects in theareas of water and sanitation, health, andagriculture.

Also speaking at the launch, Liberia’sHealth Minister, Dr. Walter Gwenigale,said Liberia’s health sector was still frag-ile. He said contrary to claims that thehealth sector was picking up, most of thework in the sector was still being done byinternational non-governmental organiza-tions. “We are still not in the development

stage. About 80 percent of our work beingdone for us is with outside funding byinternational NGOs, so we cannot say weare in the development stage because asthose people leave, unless we have themoney to take over from them, we willstill go back into crisis,” he noted.

Despite the huge needs facing thehealth sector, the money allotted to it inthe budget is very meagre. “Despite all thesupport, we are still relying on outsidedonors to be able to do the work that weare doing. So we are part of this appeal.We want to add our voice that we still needhelp. We are urging people to pleaserespond positively so that we can continueto do the work that we are doing,” MinisterGwenigale said.

The Acting Minister of Agriculture,

James Logan, highlighted the importanceof supporting the country’s agriculturalsector. “We join this appeal and we hopethe response will be generous and verypositive,” he said. The Ministry of PublicWorks’ representative at the launch,George Yango, said his ministry was grat-ified to be a part of the appeal consideringthe serious problems facing water and san-itation in the country.

The Head of the Norwegian RefugeeCouncil, Carsten Hansen, who is also anexecutive member of the ManagementSteering Committee that groups over 50NGOs working in Liberia, recognized theenormity of humanitarian needs facing

Liberia despite variouspositive developments.“We sincerely hope thatthe international com-munity will support theappeal and ensure thatthe projects outlined inthe appeal will be imple-mented,” Hansen said.

Liberia’s humanitari-an community, throughthe Mid-Year Review,revised the requirementsfor a number of projectsand reduced the time-frame from 12 to sixmonths for the activities

that had not been funded in the first half of2007. The US$64m being requested, alsorepresents the anticipated humanitarianrequirements for the first half of 2008. UNagencies and NGOs are requesting fundingfor 26 projects in health, water, sanitationand hygiene, food security, agriculture,education, protection, human rights andrule of law.

The UN and all the humanitarian part-ners appreciate the support of donors thusfar, and recognize the contribution ofUS$42m in humanitarian assistance pro-vided to the 2007 CHAP. This support hasgreatly facilitated the work of the LiberianGovernment, which is pursuing the coun-try’s recovery and development agendathrough its poverty reduction strategy.

Humanitarian Appeal Launched

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Why do we take pictures?“We take pictures around Christmas

time.”“We take pictures of our friends and

our family.”“We take pictures when we’re happy.”“To remember…we take pictures to

remember.”

Eager hands wave impatientlyto reveal the motives behindtaking photographs. A groupof 20 children sit in a class-room in Monrovia, the capital

of Liberia. As part of a UNICEF initiatedworkshop on photography, they are dis-cussing why or if it is important to takephotographs of their environment. Most ofthe children have never held a camera intheir hands and only a few own a photo-graph.

Between the ages of 9-16, half of thechildren live with their parents and they goto school. The other half are temporarilyplaced in juvenile transit centres, either

because they have run away from home,have lost their parents to AIDS or havebeen victims of domestic violence or traf-ficking.

“I think we can also document thingsthat are not so good,” a child says quietly.They all nod in agreement and GiacomoPirozzi, photographer and facilitator of theworkshop, leads the children into furtherdiscussion on what exactly it is that is “notso good.”

It is not so good that some people livein Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP)camps. It’s not so good that Liberiansdon’t have proper hospitals or that hun-dreds of children are forced to sell goodson the streets to support their family. Thegroup also agrees it would be necessary todocument that every 30 seconds a Liberianchild dies from malaria, preventable ifpeople were able to afford bed nets andimproved hygienic living standards.

All these “not so good” things are thelegacy of the brutal civil war that con-sumed Liberia for 14 years. Close to250,000 people were killed and nearly amillion people were displaced, many of

them seeking refuge in neighbouringcountries. Infrastructure was destroyed orlooted and lawlessness prevailed. Childrenwere conscripted into fighting forces byruthless warlords. As the civil war came toan end in 2003 thousands of children vol-untarily handed in their weapons inexchange for an education. By the end of2004 more that 12,000 children had laiddown their arms.

Like the rest of Liberia’s children, thegroup now discussing photography in aclassroom in Monrovia, grew up in a soci-ety deeply fractured by war. Interestingly,not one of them mentions the word ‘war’during the week-long workshop. Perhapsthey want to forget the pain of what musthave seemed like an endless nightmare?

Handful, 14, has difficulties sittingquietly. She fiddles with a notebook andgets up to go look out the window. “I thinkwe need to look for fine images,” sheinsists. “Let’s take pictures of pretty flow-ers. Let’s go to the Presidential Mansion.It’s a fine building,” she says, her attentionagain turned towards what happens out-side.

At leastthe WorldWill See…

Photo taken by Tonny Jay, 13 years


During the next couple of days thechildren learn the technical aspects ofbasic photography. Giacomo explains theneed to pay attention to the angle of thesubject and its composition, and the direc-tion and the quantity of light. Finally, totheir utter delight, each of the childrenreceives a small Sony digital camera.

With their prized gadget and pen andpaper in hand, the children, divided into

smaller groups, venture out to captureimages and take notes of all those not sogood things. Their photographs will even-tually travel to various countries as part ofan exhibition. Together they have decidedthey want the world to see that life as achild in Liberia can be difficult. “Maybe,”someone in the group suggested, “if theadults in the world hear the voice of chil-dren, then they will be able to understand.”

The children return the following daywith plenty of stories to tell and even morephotographs to show. Giacomo sets up alaptop and a large screen, and for the nextseveral hours their captivating images fillthe classroom. Some pictures are funnywhile others are sad and moving or simplyjust compellingly composed.

Maima, aged 15, stands facing heraudience to present her photographs. Partof the team documenting children sellinggoods on the streets, Maima has takenmany images of girls and she coherentlyexplains their individual story, remember-ing their correct name and age. As thephoto of a teenage girl selling toothpasteemerges on the screen, Maima breaks

down. A social worker embraces her in awarm hug and slowly her sobbing sub-sides. “She reminds me of myself,” Maimatells the group. “I used to sell bread for myauntie, who I lived with when I was 11-years old. I walked in the streets all daylong. Often I couldn’t sell all the bread andwhen I came home in the evening shewould beat me.” Maima sits down and thenearby girls rush to console her. “At least

the world will see,” one of them whispersto Maima.

Tonny, 13, is next to present his work.He has taken striking images at an IDPcamp on the outskirts of Monrovia.Hundreds of people still live in campsacross the country not having the means tostart afresh in their original communities.Perhaps their house was burned down or

perhaps other people equally eager toresettle have taken over their land.

“I just love this picture,” says Tonnyabout a close-up shot he made of a youngboy with dreadlocks leaning against a wallin the IDP camp. “Why,” the others ask,having become sharp and ambitious intheir criticism. “Because it is beautiful.”Period.

Johnny, just 12, went to a hospital aspart of the team documenting malaria con-ditions. He had taken a picture of a man ina lab testing a blood sample through amicroscope. One of the boys suggests thatJohnny’s picture is dark and he shouldhave used a reflector. “Well,” someoneelse says to defend, “he couldn’t have useda reflector because there was a table in theway and we could not get close enough tothe man.” Animated discussion breaks outas to what could have been done toimprove the light in the image.

All the 20 children presented theirphotographs. During one week each ofthem grew at least a few inches. Besidespicking up tips to take photographs thechildren learned to mirror the world fromtheir view. They have raised substantivequestions to themselves and to others. “Isee things now that I never saw before,”says Maima, smiling.

An international exhibition displayingphotographs taken by the 20 children inLiberia will travel to Canada, Japan andthe United States through 2008.

A national exhibition will be held inMonrovia early 2008.

Photo taken by Maima Tucker, 15 years

Photo taken by Johnny Lard, 12 years



In July this year Liberia crossed thetargeted benchmark of training a3,500-strong new Liberia NationalPolice (LNP), with help from UNPolice and international partners,

replacing its discredited former policeforce.

To reinforce the new police force withadditional capacity for enforcing law andorder, a 500-strong Emergency ResponseUnit (ERU) is now being established. Fivehundred officers are being targeted to con-stitute the ERU force, which will have aquick reaction capability. Already, the

selection of candidates has begun withinthe realms of the LNP.

Members of the Emergency ResponseUnit will be trained to handle violent dis-orders and internal insurrections, guardvital installations, protect very importantpersons, and escort high profile prisoners.They will also be trained to arrest hard-ened and armed criminals, rescuehostages, counter terrorism as well asassist during natural disasters.

Throughout the fourteen years ofLiberia’s intermittent civil conflict, gov-ernments, military and security forceswere instruments of oppression and brutal-ity and defenseless citizens had no

recourse to the justice system. Since thesigning of the Comprehensive PeaceAgreement (CPA) in Accra, Ghana, inAugust 2003, reforming the security sectorhas been a priority for the war-torn nation.

To ensure that the ERU functions at apremium level of tactical and operationalefficiency, all candidates will undergo arigorous series of tests to determine apti-tude and suitability. These include physi-cal testing, psychological evaluation, med-ical screening, background investigation, alie detector test, and a Board of Selectioninterview.

The selection of the first group of 100ERU officers will end by mid-December2007 and a three-month basic training isexpected to begin in the first week ofJanuary 2008 with the graduation sched-uled for March. The second group of anadditional 100 police officers will beginthe same three-month basic training inApril and graduate in June. From July2008 through July 2009, the remaining300 officers would have been recruited,selected and trained.

To reach the required standards, thethree-month programme will include basictraining in unarmed self defense, basicfirearms training, use of force, navigationskills, emergency police operations, vehi-cle counter-measures, public order train-ing, close quarters-counter measures andtactical command operations. Other cours-es will include training in the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights andInternational Criminal Justice Standard ofLaw Officials.

Focusing on different specializationsin-service training programmes will alsobe undertaken in order to keep andimprove the standards of the ERU person-nel. Based on aptitudes recognized duringbasic training, candidates will be identi-fied and selected for areas of tactical andoperational specialization. The specializedtraining commences after candidates passthe basic training.

Discarding past practices, the newLNP is expected not only to provide secu-rity for the people but to also gain theirtrust, confidence and cooperation.Liberia’s recovery will depend significant-ly on being at peace with itself and with itsneighbours.

EEmmeerrggeennccyyRReessppoonnssee UUnniittTTaakkeess SShhaappee

Eric

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With the graduation of499 soldiers in the firstweek of October, therestructuring of theArmed Forces of

Liberia (AFL) is fast gathering steam. Thegraduates completed twelve rigorousweeks of Initial Entry and AdvancedIndividual Training that has transformedthem from civilians to infantrymen readyto defend the nation. The training includedmap reading and land navigation, basicrifle marksmanship, troop leading proce-dures, movement techniques, patrolling,hand-to-hand combat, and other corerequirements.

“The infantry lead the way; on the bat-tlefield, in garrison and in remote localeson peace or humanitarian relief missions.Follow me!” said LTC. William M. Wyatt,Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation atthe United States Embassy in Monrovia,while addressing the graduates. Theinfantry in the military is a branch that isexemplified by a sense of courage, sacri-fice and above all leadership, he noted.

Emphasizing the two words “FollowMe,” LTC. Wyatt reiterated that though thelife of a soldier is challenging and entails

great personal sacrifice, the life of aninfantryman is often even more challeng-ing. “The most important role of theinfantry has traditionally been as thearmy’s primary maneuver force. It is theinfantry which ultimately decides whetherground is held or taken, and it is the pres-ence of infantry that allows the military tooccupy and control terrain.”

Summing up the spirit of the infantry,LTC. Wyatt said, “Wherever brave menfight…and die for freedom, you will findme. I am always ready…now and forever.I am the Infantry – Queen of Battle!Follow Me!” He urged the graduates to bepatient and flexible as they become morefamiliar with life as a soldier.

Of the 499 AFL soldiers who graduat-ed, 371 were transferred to the home of the23rd Infantry Brigade at the EdwardBinyah Kesselley (EBK) MilitaryBarracks on the Robertsfield Highwaywhere they will fill positions necessary toform the first infantry companies of thenew AFL. The three companies (Alpha,Bravo and Charlie) will be activated inDecember 2007.

With the new addition of graduates,the EBK Military Barracks has increasedthe size of the Liberian military at theAFL’s permanent operating base from 102

soldiers to 473, nearly a quarter of the tar-geted figure of 2,000. The remaining 128soldiers will be joined by a further 59 sol-diers currently at EBK Barracks to under-go the next phase of training, the BasicNon-Commissioned Officers Course, atCamp Sandee S. Ware Military Barracks.

Meanwhile, 19 members of the firstgroup of the AFL graduates have complet-ed the required training as combat medics.They were selected for the training basedon their performance in the aptitude testadministered to them. The soldiers havebeen assigned to the John F. KennedyMedical Center and the Edward B.Kesselly Medical Clinic for practicaltraining.

Private Lulu Nenwon, one of thenewly trained combat medics assigned tothe midwifery ward of the JFK MedicalCenter said she could now perform deliv-ery and give medical prescriptions. NormaPewee, a registered midwife supervisingcombat medic Nenwon, said at firstpatients found difficulty in accepting sol-diers but now they were happy to be treat-ed by them. “I feel so happy working withPrivate Nenwon and from her attitude itshows that the new AFL is a well-trainedand professional army,” nurse Peweeremarked.

Army Training Gathers Steam

J. Wesley Washington/UNMIL


By Sulaiman Momodu

With only a sewingmachine as her mosttreasured possessionacquired during her17-year stay in Guinea

as a refugee, returning home to war-rav-aged Voinjama was a very courageousdecision for Aminata Silla to make.

During the early part of the civil war,young Silla’s father was shot dead in herfull view. Her father’s crime was that hehad pleaded with rebels not to take hisdaughter away. Aided by friends, Sillalater managed to escape and a refugeecamp was all she had known as a homeuntil this year when she voluntarilyreturned as part of a repatriation convoyorganized by the UN refugee agency,UNHCR. For Silla, who had learnedtailoring while living as a refugee, lifehasn’t been easy since her return. “Iwas really suffering,” she laments.

However, a small start-up grant ofUS$70 has come as a big relief to thedestitute woman who has a strong willto succeed. Buying materials, sewingand selling, she no longer depends onpeople for hand-outs to survive.

Silla is among 400 beneficiaries inVoinjama District, Lofa County, whoare being assisted with grants andincome generation skills by therefugee agency through its partner, theAmerican Refugee Committee (ARC).The Micro Enterprises DevelopmentProject seeks to empower vulnerablereturnee women and girls to engage inincome-generating ventures and assistthem rebuild their lives and reintegrateinto the society.

Women receive the small grant of US$70 in two installments. Disbursement ofthe grant follows an intensive training pro-gramme in business management, record-keeping, costing/pricing, and businessplanning. The second installment is dis-bursed after a recipient shows proof thatthe first tranche has been properly utilized.

The assistance to returnees is not onlylimited to those in rural areas. UNHCR

Officer-in-Charge Field Office Monrovia,Henok Ochalla says in Monrovia,Montserrado County, 88 vulnerable fami-lies comprising of about 600 returneeshave also been assisted with each familyreceiving between US$100 - 500 either incash, equipment or other resources neededfor the small ventures. A total of US$27,500 has been disbursed in the capital sofar. The amount for returnees in Monroviais higher than the ones in the countiesbecause of the high cost of living in thecity, joblessness, and the lack of land toengage in agricultural activities.

“UNHCR has really done well for us,”lauds Miatta Gibson, the ExecutiveDirector of the New Liberia Women’sOrganization Skills Training Centre,which opened only four months ago in the

outskirts of the capital, and is attractinglots of attention. Just few weeks after itwas opened, President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf visited the modest centre and com-mended the initiative.

Civil war had forced Gibson to fleeLiberia some 15 years ago and she endedup in a refugee camp in Ghana togetherwith thousands of her compatriots. Notwilling to give up on life, with some assis-tance from a Liberian woman resident inGhana and UNHCR, Gibson and othersestablished a skill training centre in therefugee camp which bears the same nameand exists till today.

Returning home with computers andother equipment acquired in exile, estab-lishing the centre in Monrovia was a huge

challenge for Gibson. But a grant of US$1,000 provided by the UNHCR throughZOA, Refugee Care Netherlands toGibson and a co-returnee was of greathelp. The centre has baking, beauty care,and tailoring departments in addition to acomputer lab. And of the 115 students cur-rently registered for courses, UNHCR isfunding 45 returnees.

In addition to assisting thousands ofLiberians to return home by air, land andsea, the refugee agency has supported theestablishment of many small businessenterprises and skills training in line withthe expressed desire of returnees. “When Icame back from Ghana, I had nothing andlife was very hard. But with the US$ 500 Ireceived from UNHCR, I have been ableto set up a small business,” says Richie

John, who now runs his lock and keyduplication business in downtownMonrovia.

Although this year is the first timegrants have been given to returnees inLofa and Monrovia, UNHCR officialssay giving out grants is not new to theagency. Vulnerable refugees have ben-efited from grants as well as frommicro credit schemes while living incamps. Unlike grants though,returnees repay the loan so that otherstoo will benefit. “Right now we aredoing the impact assessment of thegrant, and so far, we think it is making

impact on the lives of people,” saysOchalla.

The refugee agency’s grants and microcredit loans are dictated by the availabilityof funds, making it impossible to assist allreturnees. Beneficiaries of the programmein Voinjama District say one of their mainchallenges is the lack of a banking facilityin their area but they all hail the UnitedNations Mission in Liberia for providingsecurity in the country that enabled themto return home and start rebuilding theirlives in peace.

Pedalling away on her sewing machineat her rented house in Voinjama, AminataSilla has no immediate plan to marrysomeone. “I am very proud of my work.With this, no man will fool me.”

Small Grants, Big Relief

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The gruesome photograph of aman who hanged himself,rope and all, stares at youfrom a Liberian newspaper.Yet another newspaper carries

the ghastly picture of a murder victimlying in a pool of blood or the lewd photoof someone engaged in sex. Wild rumoursand outright speculations form part of thedaily fare of some radio stations. Welcometo Liberia’s raucous, free-for-all mediascene, where journalistic ethics and pro-fessionalism lay in tatters.

But slowly, the attitudes of theLiberian media are changing. More than50 journalists from Liberian newspapersand radio and television stations recentlyparticipated in a series of workshopsaimed at enhancing journalism skills topractice ethical and objective reporting.

At the three workshops organized bythe UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) inconjunction with the Ministry ofInformation, Culture and Tourism(MICAT), media managers, experts andspecialists critically examined currentpractices and discussed a number of topicson communication, covering press confer-ences, interviewing techniques, creativewriting, development communication, andresearch methods, amongst others, toredress the lack of professional skillsplaguing the local media.

The first, a one-day interactive forum,brought together 21 correspondents andreporters from various media institutionswhich afforded them the opportunity toacquire appropriate techniques in coveringpress conferences and reporting for theprint and broadcast media. The second, afive-day training workshop that took placein Liberia’s central city, Gbarnga, in BongCounty, and brought together 14 News andSub-Editors, was aimed at improving theircreative writing skills in order to report onkey national issues.

The third interaction, also held inGbarnga, brought together 17 journalistswho were trained in specialized areas ofdevelopment reporting. The five-day

workshop enhanced the skills of thesejournalists to adequately report on specificsubject areas under the four pillars of thegovernment’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.Specific subject areas discussed includedsecurity sector reform, revitalizing theeconomy, rule of law and governance,infrastructure and basic social services,and poverty reduction campaigns.

Speaking on behalf of the participants,Horatio Bobby Willie of Star Radioannounced the formation of an Associationof Development Journalists whose pri-mary objective will be to focus on devel-

opment issues. “We are now prepared toface the challenge of changing the popularattitudes of our people as it relates todevelopment. We are now going to tell oureditors that development stories should begiven priority just as political storiesbecause we are in an era where we’re leav-ing from conflict to development. If devel-opment must come to Liberia, the mediashould play a crucial role and we are grate-ful for this,” Willie noted.

The Managing Editor of PublicAgenda newspaper, Gibson Jerue, thankedthe UN Mission and the InformationMinistry for the opportunity to learn newwriting skills and techniques and called onhis colleagues to always take advantage of

such workshop to sharpen their skills andperform better. “Workshops are a learningprocess which you should never feel toobig to attend. The knowledge that youacquire will aid you in your professionalwork and duties. Do take advantage ofthem,” Jerue urged his colleagues.

The Chief of UNMIL PublicInformation, George Somerwill, termedthe exercise as very important as the rolethat journalists play is very critical to thedevelopment of the country. Encouragingmore women journalists to take advantageof such training workshops, he expressedoptimism that Liberia could forge aheadwith support from journalists committed toreporting on development issues.

The Deputy Minister of Informationfor Technical Services, Elizabeth Hoff,said her ministry was grateful to workalong with the UN Mission in running theworkshops for members of the public andindependent media.

She suggested that journalists adopt anew approach to reporting issues, espe-cially stories that affect people’s lives,rather than resorting to sensationalism.“We feel that if we help build the capacityof the media in this area, they in turn willbe able to disseminate the right informa-tion to the people who need the informa-tion,” she noted.

Participants Jallah Griffill of RadioVeritas and Romeo Togba of SKY FMacknowledged the usefulness of the work-shops and praised the collaborationbetween UNMIL and the MICAT to buildthe capacity of Liberia’s media practition-ers. “Training plays an integral part ofimproving the performance of journalistsand one thing we got to know is that you’llhave to have integrity, perform in a waythat people will respect you and this playsa key role in the life of a journalist,” oneparticipant admitted.

Since June 2004, several hundredLiberian journalists have benefited from aseries of journalism workshops and train-ing on basic skills, media ethics and otheraspects of the profession conducted byUNMIL in collaboration with MICAT andthe Press Union of Liberia (PUL).

Mentoring the Media


By Sulaiman Momodu

Children sang songs extollingLiberia’s hard won peace asGerman Chancellor AngelaMerkel arrived at theNational Police Academy in

early October during her one-day visit tothe country. The Special Representative ofthe Secretary-General, Alan Doss, was athand to welcome her to the Academy,where Liberia’s new police officers aretrained by UN police officers drawn from38 countries, including Germany.

Chancellor Merkel inspected a guardof honour, witnessed a parade by policetrainees at the Academy and saw a demon-stration of how an unarmed police officercombats crime when confronted by armedcriminals. She praised the work ofUNMIL and expressed appreciation forthe support that the Mission is providingLiberia in its recovery from conflict.

Special Representative Doss thankedMerkel for the generous support theUnited Nations receives from her country.“UN peacekeeping would be very difficultwithout Germany’s tremendous support,”

he said.During her visit, the German

Chancellor interacted with some of the 75orphans at the Monrovia TrainingAcademy Orphanage Home that theGerman UN police officers deployed inLiberia, from contingent to contingent,have been assisting since 2005. Merkelpersonally handed over footballs and othersporting materials to the orphans and alsopledged an assistance of €3,000 to theorphanage. She also had animated conver-sations with the orphans.

The leader of UNMIL’s German policecontingent, Peter Horst, describedMerkel’s visit as an “honour” and feltproud that the Chancellor found time tointeract with the orphans.

“We tell God thank you for this visit ofthe German Chancellor and for theGermans here at UNMIL who have beenassisting us and every Saturday visit theorphanage to render one form of assistanceor the other to the orphans,” said OrethaLangford Cooper, founder of the homeestablished in 1994 to cater for abandonedand orphaned children.

Merkel said her visit to Liberia was anindication of Germany’s commitment tothe future of Liberia. She announced adonation of 300,000 mosquito nets, and €4million to help rebuild the country’s tat-tered infrastructure. She told the Liberianpresident, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, that theoffer was an illustration of Germany’sinterest in the future of Liberia and therebuilding and reconstruction process.

Johnson Sirleaf said the first visit of aGerman Chancellor to Liberia was inrecognition of “efforts being made by allLiberians to move the country forward.”She said the visit would enhance the bilat-eral ties between the industrialized nationand the impoverished West African stateand recognized Germany’s role in leadingthe efforts with other G-8 countries to can-cel Liberia's huge foreign debt accruedduring the civil war.

Merkel also visited the German-ledproject at the German TechnicalCooperation (GTZ), where weapons col-lected from ex-combatants during the dis-armament programme are being trans-formed into farming tools. She was onthree-nation tour of Africa that includedEthiopia and South Africa.

German ChancellorLauds UNMIL

Alan Doss with Chancellor Merkel

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By Sulaiman Momodu

Within a few days afterhis election as thePresident of SierraLeone, Ernest BaiKoroma arrived at the

Roberts International Airport outsideMonrovia in September on a whistle-stopvisit to Liberia.

During the visit, Koroma discussedsecurity issues with Liberian PresidentEllen Johnson Sirleaf and the UN Envoyto Liberia, Alan Doss. Emerging from bru-tal civil wars that devastated the two coun-tries, security is understandably a priorityfor both Liberia and Sierra Leone, whichshare a common border that had been usedin the past to move arms and ammunition,and for the illegal trafficking of naturalresources, especially diamonds.

The two Presidents pledged to furtherstrengthen the cooperation between theircountries and agreed to encourage and fos-ter trade and commerce as well as to workcooperatively towards enhancing thepeace-building process through the pro-motion of good governance and democra-cy. Both Liberia and Sierra Leone are nowenjoying relative peace and stability fol-

lowing the deployment of United Nationspeacekeepers. The peacekeepers leftSierra Leone in 2005.

Doss assured Koroma of the continuedcooperation of the United Nations Missionin Liberia (UNMIL) to ensure that thecommon border is properly monitored.“UNMIL will continue its collaborationand support for the joint border patrolswith Sierra Leone and Liberia securityforces,” he said. He also briefed the visit-ing President on the protection of the UN-backed Sierra Leone Special Court byUNMIL’s Mongolian peacekeepers, whichwould continue.

The two West African countries aremembers of the Mano River Union(MRU), which also includes Guinea. Thetwo leaders pledged to intensify efforts toconsolidate peace and establish securityand stability in their respective countriesso as to accelerate the reactivation of theUnion. They also urged member states torespect fully the Non-aggression andSecurity Cooperation Treaty, signed inFreetown on November 20, 1986, and theFifteenth Protocol on the Declaration ofthe Mano River Union on Defense,Security, Internal and Foreign Affairs,signed in May 2000 in Conakry, and relat-

ed Treaties. A joint communiqué issued at the end

of Koroma’s visit stated that the two MRUcountries also pledged to fully supporteach other on matters concerning theirsovereignty, territorial integrity, stability,peace and development.

On the issue of corruption, often athreat to peace and security, Koroma reaf-firmed his commitment to fighting thescourge and outlined the measures heintends to take to curb the menace that hascontributed to his naturally endowed coun-try being at the bottom of the UN HumanDevelopment Index. For his part, Dossoutlined the work of Liberia’s EconomicGovernance Programme (GEMAP), whichhas been assisting the country’s anti-cor-ruption campaign.

Members of the Liberian government,traditional leaders as well as members ofthe Sierra Leone Community residing inLiberia were at hand to receive the newPresident. Sierra Leone and Liberia havehistorically enjoyed strong cultural andbilateral ties. President Koroma won theSierra Leonean presidency following arun-off election held in September. Inaddition to Liberia, the new SierraLeonean President also visited Guinea andBurkina Faso.

New Sierra Leonean PresidentVisits Liberia

President Koroma arrives in MonroviaOlivier Malvoisin/UNMIL


In an effort to strengthen the capaci-ty of the National Commission onDisarmament Demobilization,Reintegration and Rehabilitation(NCDDRR), the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) inLiberia in November turned over fivefour-wheel-drive vehicles to theCommission.

The vehicles were handed over to theExecutive Director of the Commission,Rev. Jervis Witherspoon Sr., by the UNDPDeputy Resident Representative forProgramme, Maria-Threase Keating.Making the presentation, Keating said thevehicles were a concrete example ofUNDP’s support to consolidate nationalpeace and security through the reconstruc-tion and development of Liberia. Sheexpressed the hope that the vehicles wouldbe well maintained and used for theintended purpose.

Witherspoon thanked UNDP for theprogramme’s continued support to theCommission. He said the donation would

boost the performance of his staff in thefield conducting psychosocial counselling.

The vehicles are assets from theUNDP Disarmament, Demobilization,Reintegration and RehabilitationProgramme, which came to a close inOctober this year. The National

Commission will be supporting the imple-mentation of programmes to provide rein-tegration assistance to the residual case-load of former combatants including anationwide psychosocial counselling pro-gramme to address some of the traumaticeffects of the civil crisis.

The United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugeesand its implementing partnerin food security, the ZOARefugee Care

Netherlands, recentlyturned over nine swamppaddy rice projects to com-munity members ofCareysburg District inMonsterrado County.

Eight communities inthe Careysburg Districtworking together in groupsof twenties had earlierreceived materials, techni-cal assistance and trainingto cultivate 110 plots ofswamp. The project startedin 2005 with de-stumping,construction of water canals and ridges. In2006, the agency continued material andtechnical support. This year’s harvest is

expected to yield over 600 bags of seedrice; a sharp increase to 10 bags per plot ascompared to three bags per plot last year.The initiative is part of the UN refugee

agency’s continued endeavour to empowerand hand over reintegration projects tocommunities.

At the ceremony attended by theMinistry of Agriculture and other localauthorities, UNHCR Field Officer HenokOchalla reaffirmed the agency’s commit-

ment to helping Liberia’s devel-opment process and encouragedthe community to work towardsthe sustainability of the projecteven after the agency wouldhave phased out its reintegra-tion programme. TheDevelopment Superintendent ofMontserrado County, MomoluBass, commended the refugeeagency and hailed beneficiariesfor working hard to increaseproductivity. Beneficiaries ofthe project have meanwhileappealed to UNHCR to assistthem with a storage facility,

which will enable them preserve theirseeds and tools.

UNHCR Supports Rice Production

UNDP Boosts National Commission


By Marjorea Ballada

The Bureau of Immigrationand Naturalization (BIN) andUNMIL’s Legal and JudicialSystem Support Division(LJSSD) held a 4-day training

of trainers’ workshop in October for thenational immigration officers in Gbarnga,Bong County. The workshop, under thetheme “Understanding the Key Aspects ofOrganizing Workshops for ImmigrationOfficers,” is part of the efforts to enhancethe rule of law in Liberia.

“We are working to improve the immi-gration service in this country. We’regoing to re-structure the entire system tomake it more professional,” saidImmigration Commissioner ClarenceMassaquoi. Pointing out that all civil warsin Liberia erupted from its borders,Massaquoi said that immigration remains

a priority to the administration ofPresident Johnson Sirleaf. “We will estab-lish an effective border management sys-tem to ensure that our citizens and econo-my are well-protected,” he added.

Some international partners havepledged their support to the restructuringof the country’s immigration system. TheDutch government recently approvedUS$1.9 million for the initiative, establish-ing specific border posts and computeriz-ing the Bureau’s information managementsystem in Monrovia.

The Bureau of Immigration made rec-ommendations to streamline its varioussections and endorsed the training and re-arming of border officers who protectmost of Liberia’s 146 points of entry.

The Head of Legal Education andTraining Unit of LJSSD, Boma Jack, saidthat the essence of the workshop was tosharpen the skills of the BIN training offi-

cers and to prepare them on taking overthe responsibility of conducting trainingsfor the Bureau in the future. “We’re hand-ing over the training aspect to Liberiansnow, while we still supervise them, so thatthey’ll be able to carry on even whenUNMIL is no longer in Liberia.”

Twenty-five training officers weretaught guidelines, skills, and techniques onpreparing and conducting workshops onimmigration issues. Facilitators from theLiberian National Bar Association andUNMIL also trained the participants onunderstanding the organizational structureand chain of command of the BIN, immi-gration offences and civil penalties, ethicalconduct of immigration officers, andimmigration and trans-national trafficking.

The Legal and Judicial SystemSupport Division of UNMIL has trainedmore than 300 immigration officers sinceApril this year.

Immigration Workshop in Gbarnga

Henrietta Joy Abena NyarkoMensa-Bonsu, a Ghanaiannational, assumed herduties as the new DeputySpecial Representative of

the Secretary-General for Rule of Lawwith the United Nations Mission in Liberiaon 29 October. A Professor of the Facultyof Law, University of Ghana, she has beenthe Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law atthe same university until her new appoint-ment.

Prior to joining UNMIL, Mensa-Bonsu had undertaken a number of nation-al assignments for her home country andinternational assignments for theOrganization of African Unity (OAU), theAfrican Union, and the EconomicCommunity of West African States(ECOWAS). She was Ghana’s representa-tive on the Inter-governmental Committeeof Experts on the Drafting of the AfricanCharter on the Rights and Welfare of theAfrican Child in 1991. She was also amember of the Advisory Panel of theInternational Bar Association for the draft-

ing of a Code of Professional Conduct forDefence Counsel appearing before theInternational Criminal Court.

Mensa-Bonsu has served on theNational Reconciliation Commission ofGhana and the Police Council of Ghana.She has been the Vice-Chairperson of theECOWAS Working Group on the harmo-nization of commercial laws of non-OHADA (Organization for theHarmonization of Business Law in Africa)States, and an International TechnicalAdviser to the Truth and Reconciliation

Commission of Liberia as a nominee ofECOWAS.

Mensa-Bonsu has published widely oncriminal law, juvenile justice and chil-dren’s rights. She graduated in 1980 withfirst class honors in law from theUniversity of Ghana and was called to thebar in 1982. She won a McDougalFellowship to Yale Law School where sheobtained an LLM. She is also a FulbrightFellow, and a Fellow of the GhanaAcademy of Arts and Sciences, where shehas been its Honorary Secretary.

The new Deputy SpecialRepresentative for Rule of Law is marriedand has three daughters.

Following her recent appointment bySecretary-General Ban Ki-moon, SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-GeneralAlan Doss expressed warm welcome to hisnew colleague. “I am delighted that theSecretary-General has appointed ProfessorMensa-Bonsu, a distinguished lawyer whowill undoubtedly make a major contribu-tion to UNMIL’s work in strengthening therule of law in Liberia,” he said.

Deputy Special Representative Appointed



Over and above their disci-pline, courage and compe-tence, the Bangladeshipeacekeepers deployed inLiberia have consistently

shown real compassion and respect for thevictims of conflict and violence in thecountry. With the motto of “winning thehearts and minds of the people,” a strategythat successive Bangladeshi contingentscontinue to employ, they have built a rep-utation for being courteous and respectfulto the local culture. Beyond providingsecurity, they also treat the sick and theinjured, share food with the hungry as wellas impart vocational and other profession-al skills to ex-combatants and local resi-dents to enable them lead productive lives.

Bangladesh was among the first troopcontributing countries that set up the mili-tary component of the UN Mission inLiberia (UNMIL), first sending anadvanced party of 80 soldiers from neigh-boring Sierra Leone on 8 October 2003.Since then, with over 3,000 soldiers,Bangladesh has grown to become the sec-ond largest contingent among the 48 coun-tries contributing troops to Liberia.

Assigned in Sector III (Bong, GrandBassa and Nimba counties), theBangladeshi military reinforces the Sector

headquarters at CARI Complex nearGbarnga with a contingent and deploysinfantry battalions in 28 locations through-out the three counties. Also included in theBangladeshi contingent are two engineer-ing battalions based at the CARI Complexand Ganta, medical teams at the Level-IIhospital as well as at five Level-I hospitalsspread around, a signal unit, a logisticsunit and a military police unit, all at CARIComplex.

Bangladesh, which began participatingin UN peacekeeping in 1988, has sincecontributed over 70,000 men and womento 35 different operations on four conti-nents. Since their deployment in Liberiaover four years ago, the Bangladeshi mili-tary has scaled greater heights with thesuccessive contingents building on theirpredecessor’s achievements. The peace-keepers patrol Liberia’s porous borderswith neighboring Guinea and Côted’Ivoire by vehicles and helicopters, or onfoot, to maintain security in their area ofoperation.

When the Bangladeshi peacekeeperswere first deployed in Gbarnga, BongCounty, on New Year’s Eve 2003, theycame face to face with the harsh realitiesin that volatile region of central Liberia.The sound of gunfire still hung heavily inthe air. The entire county was in a sham-bles with properties looted and no power

“We AreAlwaysBeside

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supply. People who had fled to the bushfor safety remained in hiding for fear ofthe marauding gangsters on the streets.

A lot has changed since then. Amongthe major challenges the peacekeepersfaced included the disarmament of tens ofthousands of ex-combatants and providingsecurity and logistical support during thevoter registration and the Presidential elec-tions.

However, more challenges remain,says Brig.-Gen Md Monawar Hossain,ndu, psc, G the Sector Commander of sec-tor III. He cites the problems at the rubberplantations in Grand Bassa and Nimbacounties as well as the gold mines in BongCounty and other areas as potentialhotspots. “We prefer to take preventivemeasures to avoid these problems becom-ing explosive situations, challenging thesecurity. We remain in close contact withall the stakeholders so that the ongoingpeace process of dialogue continues,” saysthe Sector Commander.

Besides maintaining security in SectorIII, the Bangladeshis also engage in vari-ous humanitarian activities to help developthe communities they serve. The engineer-ing companies rehabilitate and maintainroads and bridges along the Gbarnga-Salala, Gbarnga-Ganta and the Gbarnga-Zorzor highways. They also maintain theGanta-Tappita highway.

“As the rainy season is expected to endshortly, we are getting ready for massiveroad rehabilitation work on all our mainhighways and feeder roads to make themmuch better for vehicular traffic,” saysCommanding Officer of BANENGR-8,Lt.-Col. Abu Nayeem Md Jobair KamalChowdhury.

The Bangladeshi medics at the Level-2hospital and five Level-1 hospitals in thethree counties provide medical and surgi-cal services to the local population in addi-tion to the military and civilian staff of themission. Despite the limited resources attheir disposal, they have donated medi-cines to the only referral hospital in thearea, Phebe Hospital. They also providespecialists including pathologists to adviseand assist Liberian doctors when the needarises, provide tests (X-ray, dental, etc.) topatients who are referred to them by PhebeHospital due to the lack of equipmentthere. BANMED runs free medical camps

for local residents every Friday under theslogan: “We are always beside you.”

“Health education is most important.Whenever we conduct a mobile medicalclinic, the emphasis is on preventive meas-ures. We provide health tips to the localson malaria, HIV/AIDS, Lassa Fever,Yellow Fever and other diseases, and howthey can be prevented,” says BANMED-4Commandering Officer Lt.-Col. Gazi AbuBakar.

“The Bangladeshis are doing well forus. They regularly provide us medicinesand at times food. We are very grateful tothem,” says Mother Esther Shoniyin, pro-prietress of St. Peter’s Orphanage Home inPlum Valley, Gbarnga City, that caters to85 orphaned and abandoned children.

In addition to their humanitarian assis-tance, the Bangladeshi peacekeepers alsoundertake small-scale community projectsto engage directly with the local popula-tion. Some of these include small scaleagricultural projects as well as vocationaltraining for ex-combatants and local resi-dents. The rehabilitation of the GbedinAgricultural Project (one of the largest andoldest agricultural projects in Liberia) andthe Bangladeshi-Liberia Friendship Center(vocational skills training center) are justtwo of these community projects.

An ex-combatant, Towan Kemue, whowent through the electrical and generatormaintenance training, expressed his grati-tude to the Bangladeshis for their efforts toempower Liberians. “I’m overwhelmedwith what I’ve learned over the last fewmonths. This will reshape my life from anex-combatant to a productive Liberianmaking my contribution to society,” hesaid.

“Liberians need more than food andshelter. They need the skills that will pro-vide them employment opportunities,”says Brig.-Gen. Hossain.

Bangladesh was admitted to the UnitedNations in 1974. It first began participat-ing in UN peacekeeping operations as amember of the Iran-Iraq Military ObserverGroup (UNIIMOG) with 15 militaryobservers in 1988. As of May 2007,Bangladesh had major deployments in theDemocratic Republic of Congo, Sudan,Timor-Leste and Côte d’Ivoire. With 9,677troops deployed, it ranks second in person-nel contributions to UN peacekeepingtoday.

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Rapheal Gray (Educator)

“In my view, the way to stop rape is toinvolve community members. They

should be vigilant and mindful of howtheir children dress, where they go andwhen to go. The police should be alsosupported with the necessary logistics,and both the police and health officialsshould sensitise communities on what todo in the event of a rape especially in

this age of HIV/AIDS. On domestic vio-lence, it’s very important that men stop

beating their wives and vice versa.Poverty is one of the ways that agitatesviolence; we must fight poverty to alsoreduce domestic violence. In homes

where there is everything including love,there is always laughter.”

Theophilus Innis (Security)

“Rape is a heinous crime. Those whocommit such crime should be severelypunished. Instead of just serving a life

sentence in jail, the person guilty of rapeshould be castrated. Once they set thatexample, I think rape would be mini-

mized. On domestic violence, I’m a vic-tim, and it was because of this that I

divorced my husband. What if you beatyour wife and she dies or is seriouslyinjured? It’s not called for in this 21st

century. Government should put in placelaws to discourage these acts around the

country.”

“First, what we need to do is embark oneducation. We must educate our peopleon the effect of rape and domestic vio-

lence. Domestic violence most oftenaffects women who are vulnerable.

Rape also destroys the future of the chil-dren who are the victims. So it’s neces-sary to visit the communities and launcheducation campaigns on the effects ofrape and domestic violence. Domestic

violence is being taken as a culturewherein some people believe that if you

don’t beat your wife, then you don’tlove her. We must tell them that cultureis dynamic and the society is moving

forward, as such we have to move awayfrom that culture which is very destruc-

tive.”

“I think we just need to educate morepeople about domestic violence andrape. Secondly, girls need to dress

decently. The dress code is a contribut-ing factor to some of the acts of domes-

tic violence and rape. Girls indecentdress code is too enticing and somemen are most times carried by whatthey see. So we need to get more

women involved to train our young girlsand boys to dress decently.”

Lurleen Falla (Educator)

“The rule of law is the basis for curtail-ing the act of rape. Most times in oursettings these acts occur and family

heads or pastors are called in to talkabout it and most times compromise. Ibelieve that the rule of law should takeits course. The Bible encourages chastitybefore marriage. On domestic violence,let’s look at the home. The Bible states

that the husband should love his wife ashe loves himself and in there, Paul, theevangelist, makes an example that if

you love your body, you wouldn’t beatyourself. So if you wouldn’t beat yourown body, it does not make sense to

beat the one that you love. So it’s wrongfor a man to beat his wife or vice versa.

You are both partners.”

Robert Freeman (Pastor)

Ruth Peah (Businesswoman)

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Those caught in acts of mob violenceshould be severely penalized so as todeter others from engaging in such

actions. This is important because oncepeople continue to institute mob violence

and go with impunity this encouragesother to engage in such acts.

Rattee Flomo

(Student, AME University)

“If we begin early by teaching our chil-dren about respecting the other person,

then they will grow up knowing thatanother human being is to be respected

and loved and not ill-treated. Usuallykids who grow up in homes where thereis domestic violence and rape, there is atendency that they will do the same. Solet’s try as much as we can to teach our

young boys and girls that we need torespect people and treat them with love.Our hands are only to be used to touch,

love and be gentle with.”

Alice Reeves (Educator)

“I feel that rape and domestic violenceare crimes. To combat these crimes, we

must report these cases to the policeimmediately. Specifically, on domestic

violence, once there is a problem with apartner, its best that we discuss this

indoors, way out of the glare of our chil-dren and neighbours. In there we candiscuss and reach a common ground.”

Emmanuel Dolo (Security)

“Some people engage in rape out ofsheer wickedness. Others do it for ritualpurposes wherein a jujuman may tell a

man that his problem will only be solvedif he raped a young girl and took theblood to him. Also, idleness is a con-

tributing factor. To stop rape, people willhave to get themselves engaged. On

domestic violence, hitting someone onthe wrong side, you might put yourself in

trouble. To stop this, one must beadvised, talked to through community

initiatives.”Linus Sayeh (Educator)

“I would like for government to institutestrong measures against those who rapebecause this is a heinous crime. Once itis established that a person has commit-ted the act, he or she should be put tojail for life. On domestic violence, thesame should suffice. The person foundguilty for committing such an act should

be committed to jail for long periodsalso.”

Comfort Weni (Businesswoman)

“Rape in our country is quite a seriousissue. As a Christian parent, we should

guide our children in the way theyshould grow. One important issue toconsider is the way they dress. Most

children dress indecently. As parents, weshould help government and the largersociety bring up our children in a rightand decent manner. On domestic vio-lence, poverty is one of the main rea-sons. A man or a woman, who cannotadequately cater to the home, will not

be respected by his/her partner which attimes leads to some form of violence.

The fight against poverty is very crucial.At the same time, the man or womanshould be an example for the children

to emulate. Equally, Government shouldenforce the laws that deal with peoplewho commit acts of rape and domesticviolence. There should be stiffer penal-

ties against perpetrators.”.

Francis Lloyd (Journalist)

“My suggestion is that anyone judgedguilty for committing rape should be

jailed. On those that commit domesticviolence, they should be punished also.Government should institute severe pun-

ishments that would discourage thesekinds of crimes in our society.”

Josephus Kollie

(Petty Trader)

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A publication of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Public Information Officewww.unmil.org

UNMIL FOCUS, Vol. 4, No. 01

unmil focus4 unmil focus september - november 2007 bey rebecca bannor-aaddae merging from the...

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