UNMIL boss on mission's progress (03.04.2009)

(Quelle: allAfrica / International)

The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Margaret Ellen Loj has highlighted progresses and setbacks toward moving Liberia from the abyss of social, economic and political depravation to the mountains of hope and prosperity in her eighteen progress report to the United Nations in New York.

700 soldiers in Liberia (02.04.2009)

(Quelle: allAfrica / International)

No fewer than 700 Nigerian soldiers have been deployed to the United Nations for peace keeping assignment.

African veterans help demobilize Liberian fighters (27.03.2009)

(Quelle: Reliefweb / International)

African military veterans are in Liberia for a program to help the government meet the needs of former fighters from the country's long civil war. Liberia's government hopes to benefit from the experience of other African nations that have successfully reintegrated former combatants into society.

Multi-agency UN project to boost local government (23.03.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

The signing of a six-agency project in Liberia is a major step toward restoring civil administration in the West African country, which is recovering from a devastating 14-year conflict, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said today. Local capabilities to be upgraded through the project include statistics gathering and analysis, information management, monitoring and evaluation, rehabilitation and construction of public buildings and service delivery, according to a UNDP release.

UN envoy warns of underlying fragility despite progress (20.03.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

While characterizing Liberia’s security situation as relatively stable, the top United Nations envoy to the West African nation today cautioned that significant challenges remain in the areas of security and the rule of law. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ellen Margrethe Løj, called for sustained international support as Liberia continues to recover from a brutal 14-year civil war, and observed that while no longer a failed State, the country is still very fragile and located in a region that is still unstable.

Joint UN office will boost teamwork in support for Liberia, envoy says (09.03.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

The opening of a joint United Nations office in a provincial capital of Liberia will boost cooperation in international support to the West African country, which is recovering from a devastating 14-year civil war, a UN official said today. … The second such office in the country – the first one was opened in June last year in Voinjama, Lofa County – brings together five UN agencies and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Liberia launches UN-backed national action plan on women, peace and security (08.03.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

The Government of Liberia today launched a United Nations-backed national action plan aimed at furthering gender equality, sustainable peace and security in the only African nation with a democratically elected female head of State.

Lack of funds may mean Liberia's Taylor freed-prosecutor (24.02.2009)

(Quelle: AlertNet / International)

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor may walk free because the global financial crisis has cut donations to the court trying him for war crimes committed in neighbouring Sierra Leone, its chief prosecutor said.

Sirleaf testifies to Truth Commission (13.02.2009)

(Quelle: allAfrica / International)

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf testified before the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Thursday, where she denied being part of any rebel group during the 14-year civil war. Sirleaf's appearance came as a surprise to many as it was not previously announced by the commission.

Liberia needs international aid to consolidate progress in reducing poverty, says Ban (13.02.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

Liberia has made strides in slashing poverty, but significant challenges still remain in meeting security benchmarks for the West African nation, still recovering from a brutal 14-year-long civil war, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. … UNMIL is in the midst of the second phase of its drawdown during which troops levels are to be reduced by nearly 1,500, and further modifications could be made during the third and final segment which kicks off this September.

Prosecutor presents final witness at UN-backed trial of Liberia’s Taylor (02.02.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

The prosecution has presented its 91st and final witness in the United Nations-backed trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor on charges of war crimes committed in the civil war in Sierra Leone, completing a graphic litany of alleged atrocities ranging from thousands of murders to mutilation, rape and sexual slavery.

UN official applauds Liberian police after a record number of female officers graduate (20.01.2009)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

A record number of over 100 newly-trained women police officers, making up two-thirds of the ca-dets completing the training for the Liberia National Police (LNP), prompted a senior United Nations official to hail the progress made since the first batch of recruits passed through the gates of the Na-tional Police Training Academy in 2005.

Uneven progress in security sector reform – new ICG report (13.01.2009)

(Quelle: International Crisis Group (ICG) / USA)

Liberia has gone far since Charles Taylor was overthrown, but its security reform has serious gaps, and the biggest challenges are just beginning. “Liberia: Uneven Progress in Security Sector Reform”, the latest International Crisis Group report, says despite real progress since the civil war ended in 2003, much more is required to counter public dissatisfaction with the police that has resulted in in-creasing resort to mob justice.

Taylor's son jailed for 97 years (09.01.2009)

(Quelle: BBC / UK)

"Chuckie" Taylor, the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, has been sentenced by a US court to 97 years in prison for torture. It is the first time a US court applied a 1994 law allowing the prosecution of citizens who commit torture overseas. Chuckie Taylor, 31, who headed a notorious paramilitary unit during his father's rule, said he would appeal.

Committed UN police force needed to strengthen Liberia National Police (16.12.2008)

(Quelle: Reliefweb / International)

UN Envoy Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj has said that in addressing the challenges in strengthening the rule of law in Liberia, UNMIL still needs a committed police force to continue to build the capacity of the Liberia National Police (LNP). She made these remarks during a ceremony to honour the Nepal-ese peacekeeping contingent for their role in strengthening the rule of law in Liberia.

Further steps needed to enhance human rights in Liberia, UN report says (03.12.2008)

(Quelle: UN News / International)

In its bi-annual report covering the period from November 2007 to June this year, UNMIL recognized that steps have been taken to address human rights concerns, such as the building or refurbishment of detention facilities, the establishment of a judicial institute to train judicial officers, and the introduction of programmes aimed at combating rape and sexual violence. But the mission remained concerned over the application of the death penalty in the West African country. … The report added that the justice sector remains weak due to the absence of key personnel and inadequate resources for essential institutions such as the judiciary, police and corrections services.

UNPOL Commissioner urges for the protection of women and children against sexual violence and abuse (01.12.2008)

(Quelle: Reliefweb / International)

UN Police Commissioner, Mr. Henrik Stiernblad has emphasized the need to protect women and children, as they are the most vulnerable to sexual violence and abuse. He was speaking on 27 November 2008, at a handing-over ceremony of a newly constructed police station in Maryland County, funded by the Norwegian government. The Police Station includes a Women and Children's Protection Section, aimed at catering to their specific needs.

Thousands of Liberian ex-combatants to take part in UN-backed rehabilitation scheme (17.11.2008)

(quelle: UN News; International) More than 5,000 former combatants from Liberia’s civil war will participate in the next round of the United Nations-led reintegration and rehabilitation programme for ex-fighters so they can success-fully rejoin their former communities, a UN official says.

Indian female police officers inspire Liberian women (14.11.2008)

(Quelle: allAfrica; International) The presence of the all-female Indian Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Liberia has inspired Liberian women to join the Liberia National Police (LNP), Head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Ms. Ellen Margrethe Laj, said when she awarded UN peacekeeping medals to more than 120 Indian police offi-cers in Monrovia.

Jordan becomes first country to answer Ban’s call for more UN police in Liberia (10.11.2008)

(Quelle: UN News) Jordan has become the first country to pledge an additional unit to United Nations police in Liberia, answering Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for extra forces to support their Liberian counter-parts as the West African State continues its recovery from a disastrous decade-long civil war.

UN troops in Liberia step up patrols on Ivory Coast border (09.11.2008)

(Quelle: Reliefweb) UN peacekeeping troops in Liberia said Friday that they have stepped up patrols on the border with Ivory Coast after media reports of rebel incursions. "As a precaution we have increased our vigilance to intensive foot patrol, dismounted patrol and air patrol in the area," the new commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Lieutenant General Abu Tayeb Muhammad Zahirul Alam told AFP.

No rebel activities in Liberia (01.11.2008)

(Quelle: allAfrica) Information Minister, Lawrence K. Bropleh said the security situation in the country is calm and that there are no rebel activities anywhere in the country as is being speculated.

United Nations police commissioner unveils new police facility (30.10.2008)

(Quelle: allAfrica) UN Police Commissioner, Mr. Henrik Stiernblad, says statistics available show that gender-based vio-lence cases are now being reported more frequently in Liberia as compared to the past. Commis-sioner Stiernblad made this statement in Sanniquellie, the provincial capital of Nimba County, when he handed over the rehabilitated Sanniquellie Police Station and a newly-built Women and Children Protection unit attached to the police station.

US trial in alleged Liberian torture wrapping up (28.10.2008)

(Washington Post) The son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor conducted a brutal campaign of torture and killings as chief of a notorious security unit known in the war-torn west African nation as the "Demon Forces," a prosecutor said Tuesday in closing arguments of the son's U.S. trial. The monthlong trial of Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Charles "Chuckie" Taylor Jr., is the first test of a 1994 law allowing the prosecution of U.S. citizens and others for alleged acts of torture and abuse committed overseas.

Ban unveils senior peacekeeping appointments to Liberia (17.10.2008)

(Quelle: UN News) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced plans today to reassign two key military posts involving United Nations peacekeeping operations in Liberia and in India and Pakistan. Mr. Ban has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Lieutenant General A.T.M. Zahirul Alam of Bangladesh as Force Commander for the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Land disputes "threaten Liberia" (14.10.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) Land disputes are a key threat to peace in Liberia, a survey by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has found. The survey warns that if the issue is not addressed there is a strong likelihood of a return to violence. … The survey by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the European Union was conducted in 75% of Liberia's administrative districts between April and July. It identified a lack of accountability and transparency, and poor communication between citizens and the government, as other factors that could undermine peace.

Country shows improvement in African governance (07.10.2008)

(Quelle: allAfrica) The 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance published yesterday by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation shows that Liberia's overall performance has improved more than any other country in sub-Saharan Africa.

More UN Police soon (03.10.2008)

(Quelle: allAfrica) The head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Margrethe Loj said on Wednesday that there will be an increase number of the Police Form Units that are presently operating in the country. According to her, the extra two Police Form units which will include an extra 240 police will join the already five Police Form Units that are presently operating in the country.

Security Council extends UN presence in Liberia for another year (29.09.2008)

(Quelle: UN News) The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) through September 2009, and authorized Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to proceed with the planned reduction of the operation’s personnel. … He recommended repatriating almost 1,500 personnel – including troops, officers, observers, and engineering and administrative units – leaving a troop strength of just over 10,000 by September 2009.

UN blue helmets help spur recent Liberian progress, General Assembly hears (23.09.2008)

(Quelle: UN News) The presence of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia has been critical to the West African country’s progress in revitalizing its economy, rebuilding basic infrastructure, tackling corruption and consolidating peace and security after years of civil war, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf told the General Assembly today.