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Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) has officially announced the commencement of its Strategic Retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, from August 20 to 23, 2025, with the objective of setting a new course for the Association and reinforcing its role in the promotion of justice, accountability, and professional excellence in Liberia.
The retreat, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR), will provide the leadership of the Bar the opportunity to deliberate on and adopt key policy frameworks, including a three-year strategic plan for the Association, a national welfare policy for its members, domestic and foreign travel ordinances for officers and staff, as well as other measures intended to improve the overall effectiveness of the LNBA. According to the Bar, the adoption of these instruments will mark a new phase in its quest for institutional growth, accountability, and dedicated service to the Liberian people.
The opening of the retreat is expected to be attended by several distinguished personalities, including Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr. and the UNDP Resident Representative.
Meanwhile, the Bar has expressed grave concern over Liberia’s recurring human rights problems as captured in international reports, noting particularly the prevalence of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual abuse as well as harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, continued discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ persons, and restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.
The LNBA lamented what it described as the government’s persistent failure to take credible steps in investigating and holding accountable officials accused of serious abuses, stressing that this pattern of impunity undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in institutions, and breaches Liberia’s obligations under both domestic and international law.
The Association has therefore urged the Government of Liberia to take decisive steps to prioritize the prosecution of all alleged perpetrators of human rights violations regardless of status or political ties, strengthen judicial independence and protect the courts from political interference, improve prison conditions to meet minimum international standards, protect and promote press freedom to ensure journalists work without fear of retaliation, combat corruption through transparent investigations and strict enforcement of anti-graft laws, and implement comprehensive measures to tackle gender-based violence, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice.
Reaffirming its commitment to collaborate with civil society, international partners, and government institutions, the LNBA emphasized that the future of Liberia’s democracy rests on respect for human rights. “Liberia’s democratic progress cannot be sustained if serious human rights violations are ignored year after year,” declared Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah.
