AFRICAN UNION
UNION AFRICAINE
UNIÃO AFRICANA
Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme &
des Peuples
African Commission on Human &
Peoples’ Rights
No. 31 Bijilo Annex Lay-out, Kombo North District, Western Region, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia Tel: (220) 441 05 05 /441
05 06, Fax: (220) 441 05 04 E-mail: au-banjul@africa-union.org; Web www.achpr.org
Consideration of Reports Submitted by State Parties under Article 62 of
the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Initial Periodic
Report of the Republic of Liberia on the Implementation of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
I. Introduction
1. The Republic of Liberia (Liberia) is a State Party to the African Charter
on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter), having ratified it
on 4 August 1982. Liberia submitted its Initial Periodic Report (the
Report) in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter in
September 2012.
2. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the
Commission) considered the Report at its 55th Ordinary Session, held
from 28 April to 12 May 2014, in Luanda, Angola, and adopted the
following Concluding Observations and Recommendations at its 17th
Extra-Ordinary Session, held from 19 to 28 February 2015, in Banjul, The
Gambia.
3. The Commission welcomes the Report of Liberia, and it notes the
reasons put forth by Liberia for the late submission of its Report,
including the 14 years’ civil war. The Commission however regrets the
23 years’ delay in submission of the Report. The Commission further
regrets that the Report does not fully observe the Commission's
Guidelines on the Submission of National Periodic Reports under the
African Charter (the Guidelines for State Reporting under the African
Charter), as well as the Guidelines for State Reporting under the
Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (the
Guidelines for State Reporting under the Maputo Protocol).
4. The Commission appreciates the presentation of the Report by the highlevel delegation from Liberia, led by the Deputy Minister for
Administration/Public Safety and Acting Minister of Justice, and the
constructive dialogue that followed the presentation. It welcomes the
frank admissions in the Report and during the presentation of the
Report about the short-comings and challenges faced by the Liberia. The
Commission further welcomes the open invitation extended by the
delegation of Liberia for the undertaking of a visit to the country.
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