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By: Staff Writer
The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with national and international partners, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, hosted a high-level Stakeholders’ Roundtable Dialogue aimed at strengthening Liberia’s human rights framework and advancing the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).
The dialogue gathered a cross-section of participants, including representatives from government ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, human rights groups, international partners, and members of the diplomatic corps.
According to the Ministry, the event provided an open platform for discussion, cooperation, and strategy development to bolster Liberia’s adherence to international human rights commitments—particularly its obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Atty. Siaffa Bahn Kemokai, Special Assistant to the Minister, reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to protecting human rights and ensuring accountability throughout the justice system.
Kemokai emphasized that the forum was timely, coming on the heels of Liberia’s recent participation in the Fourth-Cycle Review before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
During the discussions, participants examined key reports and legislative updates, including findings from the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) delegation visit, the draft Bill for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, and the review of the 2011 National Anti-Torture Bill.
Other topics included the proposed Human Rights Defenders Policy and various models for establishing and operationalizing the National Preventive Mechanism in Liberia.
The roundtable concluded with participants reaffirming their collective resolve to strengthen national systems for the protection of human rights and to promote collaboration among all stakeholders in implementing reforms aligned with international standards.
