Liberia: At Global Climate Summit, Government Pushes Ambitious Climate Goals as US Withdrawal Clouds Progress

By Aria Deemie, Climate Change Reporter with New Narratives Summary: The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference kicked off this week, in Belém, Brazil, marking what experts say could be one of the most decisive moments for global climate action. World leaders, activists, and negotiators are gathering to chart a path toward limiting global warming….

Liberia: Five Women Indicted in Trafficking Case Involving Their Own and Relatives’ Children

  By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: A grand jury in Monrovia has indicted five women for allegedly trafficking their own children and those of their relatives to Mali and Burkina Faso. The fourteen children—seven boys and seven girls, ranging in age from eleven months to eight years—have not been identified publicly…

Liberia: Justice Advocates Reject Surprise Bills for War Crimes Court, Say Measures Aim to Shield Suspects

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Summary: ·        Justice advocates say surprise bills from Senator Joseph Jallah and Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence could shield accused perpetrators and undermine years of advocacy for a war and economic crimes court. ·        The bills would send appeals from the War Crimes Court to Liberia’s…

Rights Advocates Split on Liberian Government’s Decision To Take Salvadoran Immigrant Who Has Become Symbol of Trump’s Aggressive Deportation Agenda

By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New NarrativesSummary: Civil society leaders said the Boakai government’s decision to “voluntarily” acceptSalvadoran immigrant Kilmar Armando Abrego García—a symbol of Trump’s hardlinedeportation agenda – violated the man’s human rights and were made under threat ofretaliation Liberia’s acceptance of Garcia came after other African countries refused to take him…

Liberia: Campaign to Abolish The Death Penalty Gains New Life As Human Rights Advocates Warn it Could Undermine Support for War Crimes Court

Summary: By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives The Liberian government has responded to a renewed push by civil society pledging to submit a revised bill to the Legislature that would end the practice in the country. The five-month, $US84,000 initiative — funded by the British Embassy in Liberia — marks the second…

Video: A Range of Security Challenges Will Face War Crimes Courts But Experts Say Accused Perpetrators Are Not Among Them

The next stories in this series will look at issues including reparations, staffing, the courts’ location and witness protection and investigations. This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Funding was provided by the Swedish embassy in Liberia. The donor had no say in the story’s content….