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By: The People News Online
Monrovia — Liberia’s long-awaited move to abolish the death penalty gained fresh momentum on Monday as the Ministry of Justice convened a high-level roundtable and technical drafting session aimed at preparing legislation to formally end capital punishment in the country.
The landmark discussion, held in the 6th Floor Conference Room of the Ministry’s headquarters on UN Drive, Mamba Point, brought together a cross-section of government officials, legal experts, and human rights advocates to deliberate on the next phase of the reform process.
Deputy Minister for Administration and Public Safety, Cllr. Cora Hare Konuwa, officially opened the session, emphasizing the government’s unwavering commitment to human dignity, fairness, and justice. She described the move to abolish the death penalty as a defining step toward aligning Liberia’s justice system with international human rights standards.
“This effort is about reaffirming the sanctity of human life and building a justice system that focuses on rehabilitation rather than retribution,” Konuwa said, adding that the initiative reflects strong collaboration between government agencies, civil society, and Liberia’s international partners.
Participants engaged in technical discussions on legislative design, comparative legal frameworks, and transitional justice mechanisms that would ensure a smooth shift from capital punishment to more humane sentencing options. The dialogue also highlighted the need for public awareness campaigns, judicial training, and victim support programs to strengthen the justice system’s capacity once the law is enacted.
The Ministry of Justice reaffirmed that it will maintain an open, consultative process as it moves toward drafting and submitting the proposed Abolition of Death Penalty Bill to the National Legislature.
The session was organized under the auspices of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia and supported by the British Embassy in Monrovia. Key institutions in attendance included the Liberia National Bar Association, Law Reform Commission, National Legislature, Liberia National Police, Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Public Defenders’ Office, Independent National Commission on Human Rights, and representatives of the judiciary.
The reform effort has been welcomed by Liberia’s international partners, including the U.S. Embassy, the Embassy of Sweden, and the United Nations Human Rights Office, all of which have praised Liberia’s commitment to modernizing its justice system and upholding global human rights norms.
As the country inches closer to ending capital punishment, many observers view this as a defining moment in Liberia’s human rights journey — a shift from punitive justice to one that values life, fairness, and accountability.
