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By: The People News Online
Monrovia, Liberia – Having lived through a war where children were forced to carry guns, Liberia will make a case for stronger global justice for child victims of armed conflict at International Law Week in New York.
The President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Prof. Cllr. F. Juah Lawson, has been invited by the African Union to address a high-level forum on accountability for crimes against children in war.
The session, titled “Advancing Accountability for International Crimes Against Children,” is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in New York. It will convene diplomats, international lawyers, child rights advocates and UN officials.
According to an LNBA release issued October 21, discussions will center on gaps in national, regional and international justice systems, child-sensitive approaches to accountability, and how ongoing negotiations for a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention could better protect children.
The forum will also spotlight the African Union’s renewed push on the issue, including the work of its newly appointed Special Envoy on Children and Armed Conflict.
Cllr. Lawson is expected to bring Liberia’s own painful history into the debate. Drawing on 14 years of civil conflict where children faced forced recruitment, exploitation and other grave violations, she will argue for survivor-centered justice and stronger national courts.
Her presentation will cover international legal standards, Liberia’s legal framework, and why the proposed global convention must explicitly address the distinct harms suffered by children.
The LNBA President will also use the platform to renew the Bar’s push for a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, describing it as critical to ending impunity.
Speaking ahead of the event, Cllr. Lawson said Liberia bears a moral responsibility to speak for child victims.
”Liberia’s history reminds us that children are among the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict. Their suffering must never be overlooked, and justice must extend beyond recognition of their experiences to meaningful accountability, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” she said.
She said protecting children in war requires more than laws on paper. It demands functional courts, international cooperation and political will.
”Our participation provides an important opportunity to share Liberia’s experiences, contribute to the development of international legal standards, and reinforce the urgent need for accountability mechanisms that recognize and address the distinct harms suffered by children during armed conflicts,” she added.
The LNBA said its participation is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with international partners, share lessons on transitional justice, and advance advocacy for accountability consistent with Liberia’s international human rights obligations.
