INCHR Liberia: Clarifies Reparations Mandate, Rejects Separate Body

• The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) clarified its statutory mandate regarding reparations for Liberian civil conflict victims.
• The INCHR explicitly stated that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) did not recommend a separate Reparations Commission.
• Its establishment provides the legal mechanism for implementing, coordinating, and monitoring all TRC recommendations, including reparations.
• The INCHR has begun developing a victim-centered National Reparations Framework for Liberia through consultation with survivors and partners.
• All stakeholders are urged to engage directly with the INCHR on transitional justice matters to avoid confusion and ensure proper implementation.

The INCHR explicitly rejects any suggestion of a separate entity for reparations, emphasizing that such a body was never proposed by the TRC.

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) in Liberia recently issued a definitive statement, dated October 7 and signed by Cllr. Josephine E. Ogboudo, Director of the Department of Education, Training and Information, to clarify its statutory role concerning reparations for victims of the nation's civil conflicts. This clarification directly addresses and refutes ongoing public discussions and misconceptions, particularly the erroneous belief that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) had recommended the establishment of a distinct Reparations Commission.

The INCHR's communication serves to underscore its position as the singular, legally mandated body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the TRC's recommendations. It explicitly rejects any suggestion of a separate entity for reparations, emphasizing that such a body was never proposed by the TRC. This firm stance aims to prevent public confusion and ensure that all efforts toward transitional justice and reparations are channeled through the appropriate institutional mechanism.

The foundation of the INCHR's authority in this domain stems from its very establishment, which was designed to serve as the statutory institutional mechanism for the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting of all Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations. Consequently, all matters pertaining to human rights, transitional justice, accountability, reconciliation, and the execution of TRC recommendations fall squarely within the INCHR's legal mandate. The TRC's original recommendations included the creation of a Victims Trust Fund and the provision of reparations to survivors and victims, framing these initiatives as integral components of Liberia's broader agenda for transitional justice and national reconciliation.

In fulfilling this critical mandate, the INCHR has already initiated the process for developing a comprehensive Liberia National Reparations Framework. This undertaking involves extensive learning, consultation, and direct engagement with victims and survivors, who are positioned at the core of the entire process. The ultimate objective is to craft a victim-centered national framework that will lay the groundwork for reparations that are meaningful, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable, ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of those affected are paramount.

The INCHR is not undertaking this significant work in isolation; it is actively collaborating with a diverse array of relevant stakeholders. These partners include organizations such as WONGOSOL, the Liberia Massacre Survivors Association (LIMASA), various civil society organizations, and other national and international entities. The Commission has made it unequivocally clear to both domestic and international partners that, as the statutory institution tasked with coordinating transitional justice initiatives, it must be fully informed, consulted, and engaged in all ongoing activities related to transitional justice.

Furthermore, the INCHR has called upon a wide range of groups to actively participate in the reparations process. This includes victims’ groups, civil society organizations, development partners, government institutions, traditional leaders, academic institutions, and faith-based organizations. The Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that reparations extend beyond mere financial compensation, viewing them instead as fundamental to recognition, dignity, healing, restoration, and justice for all who suffered during Liberia's conflicts. Mischaracterizations of the TRC's recommendations, the INCHR warns, risk undermining these crucial efforts and creating unnecessary public confusion.

Lawyers advising on transitional justice, human rights, or reparations in Liberia must recognize the INCHR as the sole statutory body responsible for implementing TRC recommendations, including the development of a National Reparations Framework. All engagement and consultation regarding reparations should be directed to the INCHR, as it explicitly rejects the notion of a separate Reparations Commission.

Source: Original reporting via FrontPage Africa