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GE.11-46838 (E) 211111 Committee on the Rights of the Child Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention Combined second, third and fourth periodic reports of States parties due in 2009 Liberia* [5 August 2009] * In accordance with the information transmitted to States parties... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
United Nations CRC/C/LBR/2-4 Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr.
: General 9 November 2011 Original: English CRC/C/LBR/2-4 2 GE.11-46838 Contents Paragraphs Page List of acronyms .............................................................................................................................. 4 I.... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
General measures of implementation...................................................................... 19–78 9 A.
Measures in response to concluding observations.......................................... 19–42 9 B.
Additional measures to implement the Convention........................................ 43–78 14 III.... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
General principles ................................................................................................... 86–117 28 A.
Response to concluding observations............................................................. 87–96 28 B.
Additional measures to implement the general principles of the Convention ...... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
7, 8, 13–17 and 37 (a)).......................................... 118–153 33 A.
Response to concluding observations............................................................. 119–125 34 B.
Other measures on civil rights and freedoms.................................................. 126–153 34 VI.
Family environmen... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Response to concluding observations............................................................. 155–163 39 B.
Other measures on family environment and alternative care.......................... 164–201 40 VII.
Basic health and welfare ..................................................................................... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The situation and other measures on basic health and welfare....................... 237–275 53 VIII.
Education, leisure and cultural activities................................................................. 276–294 60 A.
Responses to concluding observations ............................................................. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Special protection measures (arts.
22, 30, 32–36, 37 (b–d), 38, 39 and 40) ........... 295–353 64 A.
Response to concluding observations............................................................. 296–311 64 B.
Further measures on special protection .......................................................... 312–353... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Social and community services budget distribution........................................................ 12 Table 3.
Convention-based awareness campaigns ........................................................................ 13 Table 4.
Convention-related policies by Ministry.......................................... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Convention-related training by Ministry and role of trainees ......................................... 17 CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 3 Table 7.
Child health programmes and goods and services in the budget of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) (2007/2008 to 2008/2009)......................................... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Number of youth organizations registered or associated with the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY)............................................................................... 32 Table 10.
Offences related to cruelty to children as observed by the National Child Rights Observatory Group (NACROG) in 2007 ............... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Gender-based violence cases handled by the Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS), 2006 to 2008................................................................... 38 Table 12.
Children who ran away from parents/carers as registered by the Police and as received by THINK............................................. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Percentage of children aged 12 to 23 months receiving specific vaccines...................... 57 Table 15.
Boys and girls aged 7 to 18 not in school........................................................................ 62 Table 16.
Pre-primary and primary teachers trained between 2005 and 2009 ........................ | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Enrolment into school of children in exploitative situations under the Cycle Project............................................................................................................. 71 List of figures Figure 1.
The rise of GDP ................................................................................... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Number of visas granted to orphaned children by US Consulate in Liberia.................................................................................................. 46 Figure 4.
Early childhood mortality rates....................................................................................... 54 Figure 5.
HIV... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
GPI in Liberia’s education system .................................................................................. 61 Figure 7. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Children arrested for allegedly infringing the law, 2006-2008 ....................................... 68 CRC/C/LBR/2-4 4 GE.11-46838 List of acronyms ACRC African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child BPHS Basic Package of Health Services CAFF Children Associated with Fighting Forces CBOs Community Based Organ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Introduction and preparation of the report 1.
Liberia submitted its initial report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child seven years late, on 7 May 2002.1 The Committee discussed that report in May 2004.
This was one year after the country’s long civil war.
The country was then under a transitional government.... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Subsequent to the Committee’s discussion of the country’s initial report, a democratically elected Government was installed in January 2006.
Since then, the Government, led by Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has spearheaded the quest for a recovery from the country’s two most recent civil wars.
The first ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The second occurred between 1999 and 2003.
3.
Since its installation, the Government has been developing and implementing policies, legislation, and programmes to help the country fully recover from the years of civil war.
In this quest, the international community have significantly supported the Government.
Many ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has articulated the vision for the country with the child very much at the centre: Together we shall build a Liberia where a child can live in safety, go to a school with qualified, dedicated teachers, get the medicine they need when they are sick, trust the police to deal wit... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
A Liberia where that child’s parents can use their road to get their goods to market, can communicate with their family in other counties, and can participate in a local government vested with increasing responsibility and resources.
Together we have figured out where we want to go.
We must now work together to get t... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Primarily, the Government developed and implemented an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy,4 and developed a full Poverty Reduction Strategy in 2008.5 The strategy has four pillars: – enhancing national security, revitalizing the economy, strengthening the rule of law, and rehabilitating infrastructure and delivering ba... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Based on the PRS, the country’s 15 counties have developed development plans, for more decentralised development work.
5.
At the time of compiling this report, the House of Representative had unanimously passed a Children’s Law.6 The House of Representative Committee on Gender Equity and Child Development initiated a... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The Country’s 2008 Census provisional results showed that the 1 CRC/C/28/Add.21.
2 CRC/C/15/Add.236.
3 Quoted in Bureau of the Budget, National Budget for the Fiscal Year 1 July, 208 to 30 June, 2009 (Monrovia; Bureau of the Budget, 2008), at 46.
4 Republic of Liberia, ‘Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy’ (Monrovia;... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
6 Children’s Bill 2009.
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 7 population had risen to 3,489,072 from 2,101,628 in 1984.7 A demographic health survey conducted in 2007 has shown that 47 per cent of the population was aged 15 or below.
Over half, 55.2 per cent, were aged below 198 in the country’s 15 counties.
The counties are ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Table 1 Population in the regions and counties of Liberia Population Region Counties Population density Female Male Greater Monrovia/ Montsserado Monrovia 1 553 558 973 585 833 Gbarpolu 22 39 382 44 376 Grand Cape Mount 65 62 133 66 922 North Western Bomi 108 40 229 41 807 Bong 97 39 382 44 376 Nimba 105 235 388 232 70... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
7.
The Government has been developing new policies, laws, and programmes, partly because of the support from the international community.
The support is mainly due to the international community’s appreciation of the leadership’s commitment to democracy and sound macro-economic management.
Consequently, the country ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
8.
The country’s debt/export ratio has been high.
Following the war, the country’s external debt in Net Present Value was estimated at USD 4.5 billion in 2006, mostly consisting of accumulated arrears of debt service payments.
The debt burden has been 7 Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (L... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
8 Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) [Liberia], Ministry of Health and Social Welfare [Liberia], National AIDS Control Program [Liberia], and Macro International Inc. 2008.
Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2007.
Monrovia, Liberia: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Informa... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Total external debt relative to exports of goods and services was at 196.7 per cent.
9.
An arrangement to share some of the debt was agreed in 2007, resulting in AfDB lifting sanctions, normalize relations with the country, and consider the country for a HIPC status.
The Government paid UA1.62 million (1 per cent), ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
10.
In addition to developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) in 2008 for the period of 2008 to 2011, the country has been implementing a Poverty Reduction Strategy Facility/Extended Facility Programme.
As of April 2009, the Government was in addition developing a Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTEF).
A pledge of ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
11.
As the economy recovers, it is still very much propped by donor funding.
The PRS was developed with a recognition that debt transfers will continue to be a significant contribution to the economy.
Donor transfers as a percentage of GDP amounted to 229.5 per cent in 2007, rising to 236.7 per cent in 2008.
As a r... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
12.
The contributions of donors have assisted in the economy’s gains under the Government Economic Management Action Plan (GEMAP).
Having declined by over 30 per cent mainly as a result of the war in 2003, real GDP increased from 2.6 per cent in 2004 to 9.4 per cent in 2007, as security, good governance, and economic... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
This report is on the progress the country has made in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The preparation of the report was participatory.
The process was synchronized with the development of the PRS and the Children’s Law.
Wide and deep participation was a feature of both those processes.
In a... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
In their inputs, they expressed their aspirations, evaluated the way Government was responding to such aspirations, noted challenges, and made recommendations.
The consultations on the development of the Children’s Law, in particular, were based on the need to realize the Convention, which that law seeks to incorporat... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
An inter-ministerial committee was established, chaired by the Minister of Gender and Development, Honourable Vabah Gayflor, to lead and oversee the process.
This committee consisted of all members of the Cabinet’s Social Committee plus the Ministry of Justice.
This Committee provided leadership and oversight of the ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
It also acted as the official voice for the process, provided advice to the technical teams preparing the report; and presented the report to Cabinet before submission to the United Nations.
15.
Further, an Inter-Ministerial Technical Coordination Committee consisted of representatives from all ministries of Liberia’... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
One of its roles was to provide technical support to the respective members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The Committee’s role involved supervising officers who designated as reporting focal points for the report.
The Committee was to supervise the reporting focal points in their respective Ministries as they c... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
16.
Each reporting focal point had to respond in a timely fashion to the data collection tools and further inquiries made by the team analyzing the data.
Each was to collect required information and documents to provide data related to the Concluding Observations and the general implementation of the Convention on th... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
17.
In addition to the Committees and the focal points, there was a national-level children’s reference group, which consisted of the leadership of the Children’s Parliament.
One role of the Children’s Reference Group was to solicit views and information on the experiences of other children in Liberia.
A second role... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Lastly, the Children’s Reference Group had a role to validate draft reports.
18.
The report follows the guidelines issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child for periodic reports9 in structure and content.
Based on the update of the status on state reporting, this report covers Liberia’s, second, third, and ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The Committee on the Rights of the Child made several recommendations for Liberia regarding the general measures of implementation of the Convention.
Legislation 20.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that Liberia undertake a “comprehensive” review of legislation to ensure that domestic legislation ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
10 CRC/C/50/2.
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 10 GE.11-46838 21.
The House of Representative Committee on Gender Equity and Child Development, assisted by UNICEF and working with Government and civil society partners, undertook such a review as an initial process in the preparation of a new Children’s Law.
By April 2009, the legisla... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
When passed in that House, it would be sent to the President for assent before coming into operation later in 2009.
National plans of action 22.
The Committee’s recommendation about a national plan of action was that the country should develop, adopt, and implement, a national plan of action in line with General Asse... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
This was largely because of instability and fragility existing in the country when the plan should have been prepare.
The current Government assumed office in 2006 and quickly embarked on a process to steer the country towards recovery.
After the completing developing the PRS in 2008, the Government has already start... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Coordination 24.
Having noted that the children’s unit in the Ministry of Gender and Development was weak, the Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Liberia to make the unit operational.
In addition, the Committee asked the country to provide sufficient human resources for coordination work to realize child righ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Its role is to ensure the protection of children’s rights at national and county levels, advocate for child rights, advise Government on children’s rights, coordinate programmes on child well-being, and monitor child rights violations.
The Unit has 13 child welfare officers deployed in the country’s 15 counties.
The ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
26.
There has been improving coordination at national and county levels through the work of gender coordinators, who work under the Ministry.
At the community level, the Government has encouraged civil society organizations to form and work with child welfare committees.
27.
No nation-wide survey of child welfare c... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
IRC, however, conducted a survey of child welfare committees in Lofa County, which has a population of 270,114.
IRC found that there were 60 child welfare committees in that county.
Other than such information, there is widespread knowledge that the there are many child welfare committees in the country, established ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Independent monitoring 28.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Liberia to provide adequate resources for the work of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) so that it could effectively carry out its monitoring and evaluation roles.
There was a further recommendation that the INCHR shou... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 11 29.
So far, the work of the INCHR has been on general human rights, with no particular dedicated human and organizational resources and plans on child rights.
The work of the Commission has been hampered further by a long period when no commissioners were in place and some improper manage... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Nevertheless, in the PRS, the Government has pledged to “provide resources and otherwise enable the INCHR to fulfil its mandate to ensure protection of human rights throughout Liberia”.12 Budgetary allocation to the Commission increased by 19.8 per cent in the 2008/2009 financial year, but this was from a low base of U... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
To help strengthen the monitoring of child rights violations, the Government and its civil society child protection partners formed the National Child Rights Observatory Group (NACROG), chaired by the Ministry of Gender and Development.
Its role is to investigate, monitor, and report the violation of child rights.
NA... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
NACROG, receives and investigates, refers, and tries to resolve complaints about child rights violations.
In 2007, NACROG received 438 complaints, 116 of which were about the rape or defilement of children.14 32.
As there is no independent public organization with the legal authority to investigate complaints about c... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
It will provide oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of governmental and other work on child rights and act as an ombudsperson for children.
Its composition will include members from Government, civil society, a professionally qualified chief executive, and chairperson of the national children’s forum.15 Resources fo... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Indeed the Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended that the country should “prioritize budgetary allocations to ensure the implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights of children” particularly for children “belonging to economically disadvantaged groups”.
34.
Government budgetary allocation to th... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Figure 1 shows national budget allocation per sector for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 financial years.16 11 Report of the Auditor General on the Independent National Commission on Human Rights for the Fiscal Year Ended 2006/2007 (Monrovia; Office of the Auditor General, 2008).
12 Republic of Liberia, ‘Poverty Reduction... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
14 NACROG-Liberia, Child Rights Violations: A Comprehensive Response Required : A Situation Report, (Monrovia; NACROG, 2007).
15 Children Bill, Part XI, sections 116 and 117.
16 Bureau of the Budget, National Budget for the Fiscal Year 1st July, 2007 to 30 June, 2008 (Monrovia; Bureau of the Budget, 2007) and Bureau ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 12 GE.11-46838 Figure 2: Budgetary Allocation to Sectors, 2007/2008 to 2008/2009 0 10 20 30 2007/2008 2008/2009 Social and Community Services Rule of Law and Public Safety Public and Admnistrative General Claims Economic Services Social and Community Services 26.42 21.2 Rule of Law and Public Safety 13.64... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
35.
In the Social and Community Services sector, there are twelve other departments and agencies.
The largest share of the sector budget goes to the Ministry of Education.
Table 2 presents an example how the sector budget of US$59,053,381 was distributed to the 15 ministries and agencies in the 2008/2009 budget.
Ta... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Ministry/agency % of sector budget 1 Education 47.43 2 Health and Social Welfare 36.25 3 Youth and Sports 6.77 4 National Food Assistance Agency 0.07 5 Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau 0.23 6 Gender and Development 1.84 7 Monrovia City Corporation 1.61 CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 13 No. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Ministry/agency % of sector budget 8 Liberia Repatriation, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Commission 1.06 9 National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Repatriation 2.31 10 National Commission on Disabilities 0.42 11 National Veteran Bureau 0.50 12 Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment 0.7... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
36.
The allocation to the social and community services sector decreased in the 2008/2009 financial year, as the economic services sector’s share of the budget significantly increased.
There are two reasons for the increase in the share of the budget for the economic services sector.
The first is that two Ministries... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The second reason is that the Government hopes that greater investment in the economic services sector will help multiply resources, which can in turn be applied to the social and community services and other sector.
Data collection 37.
Another area that the Government concedes the need for improvement is data collec... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The county was asked to seek technical assistance from UNICEF.
38.
The Child Protection Network intends to work with the Ministry of Gender and Development to establish a central data bank on child well-being within the Ministry.
There have however not been pledges for funding from the organizations that constitute ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The Government will lobby several organizations to have such goodwill translated into practice.
Dissemination of the Convention 39.
The review that preceded the drafting on the new Children’s Law confirmed the importance of a recommendation made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The Committee urged Liberi... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Liberia was further urged to develop “a culture of knowledge and respect for human rights in all sectors of the population”.
40.
Indeed the review by the House of Representative Committee on Gender Equity and Child Development confirmed that the knowledge of child rights in the country was low, even among some child ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
164 5.
Sexual exploitation and abuse 6.
175 CRC/C/LBR/2-4 14 GE.11-46838 7.
Prevention of recruitment and re-recruitment of children associated with fighting forces 8.
127 9.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child in general 10.
248 Source: Ministry of Gender and Development, 2009.
41.
The new Children’s Law... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The role of that committee will be to oversee the disbursement of financial support to civil society organizations and others to carry out child rights education in communities, schools, work places, and other key areas of Liberia’s life.17 42.
The work of the child rights education committee will build on much work t... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
For example, over the years, the Government has been disseminating the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child made following the discussion of Liberia’s initial report.
In 2005, with the support of UNICEF, 5,000 copies of the Concluding Observations were produced and the same number of cop... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The Ministry of Gender and Development has also distributed copies of a Convention-based booklet on rights and responsibilities.
B.
Additional measures to implement the Convention 43.
Despite significant constraints, the Government has made progress on the implementation of the Convention.
The implementation constr... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
44.
The factors that have helped with the implementation of the Convention have included the peace and stability in the country and greater participation and visibility of children in the formulation of development policies, legislation, and programmes.
Other key factors have been increasing prioritisation of childre... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
There have been a number of policies directly relating to the realisation of child rights.
Of the 19 Ministries, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Education, Labour, and Youth and Sports have formulated such policies.
This may be because the mandates of these four ministries directly relate to child well-bei... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Table 4 below indicates the policies that are directly related to child well-being.
17 Children’s Bill, article 11, sections 104 and 105.
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 15 Table 4 Convention-related policies by Ministry 11.
Ministry 12.
Policy, strategy or plan 13.
Year 14.
Convention-focused elements 15.
Education 1... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Health and Social Welfare 20.
National Health Sector Policy 21.
2006 22.
Recognition that health as a universal right and focuses on primary health care 23.
Labour 24.
National Plan of Action to against Human Trafficking 25.
2008 26.
Coordination of efforts to combat human trafficking which mostly involves child... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
2005 30.
Promotion of youth participation in the national decision-making process and input into national and community programmes and initiatives Legislative measures taken for implementation 46.
The Government has passed several pieces of legislation, some of which directly relate to child well-being.
Table 5 give... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Table 5 Convention-related legislation Year Legislation Pertinent prescription about children 2005 An Act to Establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia Article III, section 4.f to address the experiences of women, children and vulnerable groups, paying particular attention to gender based violat... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
2005 An Act to Establish the Independent Human Rights Commission Article III, section 2(b) includes the following definition of human rights that the Commission is to “protect and promote”: “the rights, liberties or freedoms conferred on, guaranteed to persons by an agreement, treaty or convention to which the Republic... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
2005 An Act to Amend the New Penal Code Chapter 14 Sections 14.70 and 14.71 and to Provide for Gang Rape, 2005 Section 3 provides that rape and the gang raping of a person under 18 is a strict felony punishable by life imprisonment. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 16 GE.11-46838 Year Legislation Pertinent prescription about children 2005 An Act to Ban Trafficking In Persons within the Republic Of Liberia, 2005 Section 1 and 2 makes provision for the punishment of child trafficking, child pornography, forcing or servile marriages, delivery of children for exploitati... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
2008 An Act to Repeal the National Defence Law of 1956, the Coast Guard Act of 1986 and to Establish the National Defence Act of 2008 Section 7.2 of Chapter 7 provides that eligibility for service in the armed forces of Liberia is restricted to those aged between 18 and 35.
47.
The Children’s Law will incorporate the... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
It will add that the best interests of the child should be the primary consideration in all decisions and actions that may affect current and future children at all levels. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
It will further give direction with regard to work on child rights by demanding a multi-sectoral and holistic approach.18 Whilst encouraging African traditions and customs which are compatible with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the new Act, like the Convention and the ACRWC, will require that any customs, ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The new law will stipulate duties for parents, community leaders, service providers, and political and policy functionaries.
Child welfare committees at the community level will be allowed to make demands on local government systems and functionaries to advance child rights.
Children’s forums will be created at vario... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The new law will further improve accessibility to remedies in cases of child rights by allowing any person to bring an action to enforce child rights irrespective of whether her or his own rights have been infringed.21 Organizations acting in solidarity with any child will similarly be allowed to bring an action to enf... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Government programmes that directly relate to the implementation of child rights pertain more to basic social services ministries or those that have explicit mandates to work on child rights or child well-being.
In this regard, policies on children have related to areas where the Government has established policies su... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
51.
An appreciable contribution in the forms of programmes and projects has been from international development agencies, international non-governmental organizations, and local non-governmental organizations.
Many of such agencies have either supported Government initiatives or implemented projects directly or in co... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Examples of such organizations have included UNICEF, SC UK, WHO, UNFPA, MOHSW/SW, CHT, LPMM, WVI, AFRICARE, EQUIP, CAP, MSF, 18 Children’s Bill, article II.
19 Ibid., article III(38).
20 Ibid., article 11.
21 Ibid., article XII.
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 17 ACF, MERLIN, SC-UK, MDM, BAG, TDS, MERCI, HUMEDICA, IRC, I... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Training in child rights 52.
Training on child rights or related matters has been the commonest strategy adopted by NGOs and Government departments, to enhance capacity for the implementation of the Convention.
Table 6 shows the number of people trained on child rights through the Ministry of Gender and Development. | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Table 6 Convention-related training by Ministry and role of trainees Numbers trained, 2005–2007 2005 2006 2007 2008 Nature of training Nature of trainees Total F M Total F M Total F M Total F M Child rights and protection Law enforcement officers 1 762 Child protection Children 250 100 150 140 120 120 400 150 250 274 1... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
53.
Table 6 shows that significant training has been accorded to children, though not much has been on the Convention or child rights as such.
It is difficult to indicate the effectiveness of the trainings, as post-training monitoring has not been systematically done.
When a child rights-based data system is establi... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Coordination mechanisms 54.
The current policy and legislative framework places coordination on the implementation of child rights upon the Ministry of Gender and Development.
The Act creating that Ministry requires the Ministry to establish “an inter-ministerial policy coordinating committee, relevant tasks forces a... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
In addition to advising Government on matters affecting the welfare of children, the Ministry has effectively to coordinate gender-mainstreaming efforts in the country.
This is to ensure the centrality of the perspectives of both men and women in the following matters: policy formulation, legislation, resource allocat... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
At the central level, the Ministry of Gender and Development consists of a Department of Planning and four bureaux respectively on planning, administration, legal affairs, and public affairs and documentation.
It is at the county level, however, where the Ministry has strong chances for effective coordination, as the ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
The gender coordinators are charged with “directing and translating the Ministry’s programmes into strategic and result-oriented initiatives to facilitate the advancement of rural women and development of children”.24 58.
The challenge is huge, as development planning is yet to be fully holistic and multi- sectoral.
... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
Child Welfare 22 An Act to Amend the Executive Law Title 12 for the Establishment of A Ministry of Gender and Development.
23 Children’s Bill, Article.
24 An Act to Amend the Executive Law Title 12 for the Establishment of A Ministry of Gender and Development, section 38.6.
CRC/C/LBR/2-4 GE.11-46838 19 Committees, n... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
59.
The Ministry of Gender and Development’s gender coordinators, however, are in short supply in the light of what children, women, and communities expect from these service providers.
In 2005, the Ministry of Gender and Development employed and deployed 12 Gender Coordinators.
The number stayed static until 2007, ... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
This is insufficient especially considering that some counties are larger or with more people than others.
Resources for children 60.
In the allocation of resources, both adults and children confirm that adults, especially males, take precedence over children.
The gender imbalance in resource allocation also pertain... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
25 On its part customary law allows polygamy.
The practice of polygamy, acceptable among many people in Liberia, tends to reduce the amount of resources that a father would devote to a child.
61.
Although a woman may apply for a putative father to make a contribution towards the maintenance of a child born out of we... | https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/thematic2f/pw_2/1722000478734.pdf | https://clr.africanchildforum.org/pdf/libera-second-to-fourth-uncrc-sr_en.pdf | Liberia |
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