New prison opens in Liberia as part of UN efforts to help country rebuild (28.07.2010)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

The United Nations deputy envoy in Liberia has assured the country of the world body’s continued support for recovery and development in the West African nation, which include a new modern UN-funded prison and a centre where peacekeepers will teach vocational skills to young people.

UN blue helmets sent to scene of violence in north-west Liberia (26.02.2010)

(Quelle:UN News)

The United Nations Mission in Liberia has sent police and troops to help national authorities investigate an outbreak of violence in the country's north-west, where several people have reportedly been wounded in inter-communal clashes.

Truth Commission releases final report (02.12.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia (TRC) has announced the release and publication of its final reports after several weeks of editing and technical work leading to its publication.

New national platform for peace and dialogue (10.11.2009)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

After 14 years of recurring conflict that destroyed Liberia's political institutions as well as much of the country's basic infrastructure, renewed efforts are being made to encourage reconciliation and avoid the resurgence of armed conflict. The recently launched National Platform 4 Dialogue and Peace in Liberia (P4DP) aims to increase the capacity of both state and non-state actors to deal with conflict through dialogue and collaborative action.

Pakistani veteran of Somali operation to become new UN military head in Liberia (20.10.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Lieutenant General Sikander Afzal as UNMIL Force Commander

Security Council extends UN presence in Liberia (15.09.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

The Security Council today extended the mandate for one year of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia … . In its unanimously-adopted resolution on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the Council authorized the force to assist the West African nation with the 2011 general presidential and legislative polls by, among other measures, facilitating access to remote areas.

Liberia still faces security challenges, despite gains towards peace – UN report (17.08.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

Liberia continues to make significant progress in consolidating peace after more than a decade of civil war, but the gains remain fragile, especially with regard to security, rule of law and job creation, according to the latest United Nations report on the work of peacekeepers there. … Moreover, the stability of the West African country … continues to be affected by potentially adverse developments in the sub-region such as the drug trade and various armed groups, Mr. Ban warns.

US pledges US $7.5 million for free, fair transparent elections (14.08.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

US Secretary of State, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, has disclosed that "Liberia is on the move," an indication of her satisfaction with the progress of the Sirleaf Administration.

She has accordingly pledged US $7.5 million to the Liberian government for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in 2011.

DDRR program closes tomorrow (20.07.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

President Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will formally close the Liberia Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program (DDRR) on Tuesday July 21, 2009. … DDRR has been hailed as a success story because of the space it provided for the elections and the introduction of measures to sustain the peace and transition to recovery and development.

Security stable at Liberia-Guinea border (17.07.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

Following the recent pronouncement made on the BBC by Guinea's military leader Gen. Musa Dadis Kamara that there are attempts by rebel forces at the Liberian border to oust him, the Force Commander of UNMIL has indicated that there is no such situation and that the security situation at the border is stable.

Former Liberian president Taylor takes stand at trial in UN-backed court (14.07.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

The former Liberian president Charles Taylor took the stand today in his own defence during his trial at the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), where he is facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mr. Taylor has already pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include pillage, slavery for forced marriage purposes, collective punishment, and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

Land disputes undermine Liberia's peace (08.07.2009)

(Quelle:Reliefweb / International)

Long-standing land disputes have fueled ethnic tension in northern Liberia, which some fear could flare into armed conflict and threaten the country's fragile peace following two civil wars. The spats are over property in Nimba county on the border with Guinea, a region that saw some of the heaviest fighting in the 14 years of bloodshed and where animosity still runs deep.

Liberia's leader “should resign” (07.07.2009)

(Quelle:BBC / UK)

Liberia's opposition has called on President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to step down after the truth commission said she should be barred from office. … The commission said she should be barred over her ties to Charles Taylor. Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf has always admitted that she had backed the former warlord's rebellion 20 years ago.

Opinion divided on Truth and Reconciliation findings (06.07.2009)

(Quelle:Irinnews / International)

In Liberia public opinion is divided on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, based on four years of investigations into violations of human rights and humanitarian law during the country’s civil conflict. The commission (TRC), which published its recommendations on 1 July, includes President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf among 50 Liberians who should be subject to public sanctions for their association with perpetrators of war crimes.

UNMIL trains Liberian journalists as trainers (29.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The Public Information Section of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has awarded certificates to 11 Liberian journalists as 'trainers' following a weeklong intensive training program in Monrovia.

UN supports Liberian security forces with new training facility (24.06.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

The handing over of new training facilities to the Liberian National Police (LNP) signals a boost in efforts to achieve a fully-functional democratic security force in the West African nation, said the top United Nations envoy to Liberia.

Date set for Taylor's defence (23.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone has announced that lawyers for the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, will begin their defence against charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity on 13 July.

UNMIL departure tied to successful 2011 elections (19.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The presence of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia will remain strong until after a successful conduct of the country's second post-war democratic elections. The visiting UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Alian Le Roy says nearly 8,000 forces will stay in the country until after the 2011 elections and that the Mission continue to "include the conduct of free and fair elections on the list of core benchmarks" for an eventual drawdown.

UN committed to backing Liberia’s security sector, says top official (16.06.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

The head of United Nations peacekeeping operations today wrapped up the latest leg of his West African tour in Liberia, resolving to continue the world body’s support for the country. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Alain Le Roy gave assurances that Liberia’s security agencies and judicial sector can count on the UN for its ongoing assistance in Monrovia’s bid to restore full State authority over the entire country.

No peace without justice, British diplomat warns (16.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) has warned that unless there is justice, peace and reconciliation here, the current peace process is bond to fail, indicating a reverse to the nation's immediate ugly past. "There will be no peace and future reconciliation without justice," United Kingdom's Political Counsellor, Gillian A. Dare, speaking on behalf of the ICGL, said at the opening of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) National Conference on Reconciliation Monday.

Ban calls on Liberia’s partners to “stay the course” (15.06.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Liberia’s partners to continue support to the West African country, which, six years after the end of conflict, remains fragile but has the potential to be a beacon on stability in the region. “Once the epicentre of conflict, Liberia now has the potential to become a pillar of peace and stability in a troubled region,” Mr. Ban said in his latest report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Quality of personnel essential for restoring confidence in justice system (08.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

It is against this background that UNMIL prioritized the Rule of Law sector for use of its Quick Impact Project funds, (Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Rule of Law, Henrietta) Mensa-Bonsu said. To this end, UNMIL has collaborated with the Government to construct courthouses, as well as police stations and depots for the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN). She revealed that currently, more than 20 facilities in the Rule of Law sector are in various stages of construction.

Women recommend punishment for warlords (03.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

Women groupings under the Women NGO's Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) have reached a broad consensus on the need to punish heads of the former warring factions and "warlords" in the Liberian civil conflict. The women in their recommendations to Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) made specific suggestions for jail terms and hard labor for the heads of the defunct warring factions and "warlords" with proposals also for the establishment of a war crimes court for Liberia. The women recommended that "warlords" and people with track records of corruption and abuses should be bar from holding public offices.

LACC assured of UNDP's support (01.06.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The Assistant Resident Representative for Governance at the United Nations Development Programme, Ms. Nessie Golakai has assured the Liberia anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) of UNDP support in promoting a credible and transparent society where public officials are held accountable in their service to the country. She said “UNDP support to the LACC is intended to enhance the rule of law, build strong and credible national integrity systems based on persistence and deterrence”.

Security Council lists hotspots (25.05.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The UN Security Council team visiting here last week expressed concern over key areas, mainly the failure of the security sectors reform, rising corruption, capital flight, and the failure or inability of the government to implement Resolution 1532 mandating all member states to freeze the assets of targeted official of former President Charles Taylor. Sources told this paper that the team listed these points during a closed-door meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Judges at UN-backed court dismiss motion to acquit Charles Taylor (04.05.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

Judges at the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone have rejected a request to acquit the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. … They ordered that Mr. Taylor’s lawyers open their case on 29 June. Mr. Taylor is expected to take the stand in his own defence.

Small arms control campaign reaches Bomi County (20.04.2009)

(Quelle:allAfrica / International)

The Liberia Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA),an organization fighting against the proliferation of small arms in the country has launched another campaign in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. According to the organizers, LANSA’s campaign on small arms control is geared toward conscientizing the people on the danger of small arms and its proliferation in the country. … The Liberia Action Network On Small Arms (LANSA) a local NGO in the country is working with 25 international NGOS, including OXFAM to ensure the control of small arms in the country.

Rule of law key to UN efforts to support security, envoy says (15.04.2009)

(Quelle:UN News / International)

The top United Nations envoy to Liberia today pledged continued support to rule-of-law institutions as the linchpin of efforts to boost security in the country, which is recovering from a brutal 14-year civil war.

Dismissal motion in epic Taylor war crimes case (07.04.2009)

(Quelle:Reliefweb / International)

Lawyers for former Liberia president Charles Taylor sought his acquittal Monday on war crimes charges at The Hague's Special Court for Sierra Leone where he has been on trial since June 2007. "The evidence presented to date, viewed in an objective manner, is not sufficient for or capable of supporting a conviction," Taylor's lawyer Morris Anyah told the court during a special session to hear the defence motion.

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.