There is a high concern about Liberian children in neighbouring countries who left
because of the war and yet are not returned and integrated with their families. The
government of Liberia should take all measures to look into the residual cases of Liberia
children and youths who are still languishing in the neighbouring countries. This can be
done by developing a special program to attract and support their return and
reintegration into the Liberia society.
On children in armed conflicts
The Committee appreciates the State party for the inclusion of Article XII of Children’s
Law which explicitly prohibits children’s involvement in armed or any other violent
conflict, and criminalizes the recruitment or conscription of children into any form of
military service. But armed groups in the on-going conflict of Cote d’Voire are recruiting
and using Liberian children and youths along the borders. Thus the Committee
recommends the State Party to put in place practical measures to prevent the
recruitment and use of Liberia children and youths by arm groups operating in the
border areas, in particular border areas with Cote d’Voire. This could be done by
alarming community leaders and communities the danger their children will face, and by
providing school and youth centres in the areas to keep children from the sight of the
armed groups. The State Party should also take all efforts to retrieve those children who
are already with the arm groups and provide them with the necessary psychosocial and
reintegration support for their recovery.
On children in conflict with the law
The Committee appreciates the legislative measures to incorporate diversionary
measures, the right to fair trial and training for personnel involved in juvenile justice into
the Children’s Law and fixing age of criminal responsibility at 16. For the better
implementation of the law into practice, the Committee recommends the State Party to
consider reforming its juvenile justice system to be able to implement the new Child
Rights Law, the African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child and International
Instruments that set minimum standards for juvenile justice. The reformation measure
should focus on developing system that is correctional and rehabilitation oriented rather
than retributive. Further the reformation should be backed by develop guidelines for
dealing with children in conflict with the law who are under the age of criminal
responsibility and incorporating practical guidelines on age verification for the benefit of
adolescents without birth certificates; establishing well-resourced juvenile courts in all
counties across the country and train the judges and other personnel working in the
court.
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