GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA’S INITIAL REPORT
TO THE AFRICAN COMMITTEE OF EXPERTSON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE
CHILD
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISION OF ARTICLE 43 OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE
RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD
Introduction
It is known worldwide that fourteen years of civil war led to widespread child abuse: the use of children as
combatants and sex slaves, sexual violence and torture. In addition, education and health systems were
completely broken, including the limited infrastructure which was left in ruins. For almost two decades, the
vicious war left an entire generation denied of the opportunity to realize their full potential. Despite this difficult
experience, with the end of the civil war, and intensive development efforts, much has been achieved for
children in Liberia. Peace has been consolidated and the physical and social landscape being transformed. Basic
mechanisms have been revitalized as indicators for child survival and access to basic services including health
and nutrition interventions, safe drinking water and sanitation and education have essentially improved.
In the recent six years, the Government of Liberia has successfully written off its huge external debt, thus
reaching the High Indebted Poor Countries Completion point in 2012. The country has completed its 2008-2011
Poverty Reduction Strategy and is nearing finalization of the new national vision document as well as Medium
Term Growth strategy which is the Agenda for Transformation through Action (ATTA) 2012-2017.
The Children law, which has been approved and launched by the President of Liberia, marks a firm
commitment on behalf of the Government of Liberia to the domestication of the African Charter on the Rights
and Welfare of the Child. Sector policies and plans have been adopted in several key child-focus areas
including education, social welfare, and health. Other guiding documents are under development, including the
national youth policy and the nation‟s first social protection policy. While there is still much work to be done,
there is no doubt that the future of Liberia‟s children is better than it has been decades ago.
Part 1: GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION
8. Under this section, State Parties are requested to provide relevant information pursuant to Article 1 of
the Children’s Charter, including information on:
a) necessary steps undertaken, in accordance with their Constitutional processes and with the provisions
of the Children's Charter, to adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to give effect
to the provisions of the Children's Charter.
A key legislative measure to give effect to the children‟s charter adopted by the state, has been the Children‟s
Law which was introduced into the House of Representatives and passed in 2008. It was passed by the Upper
House of Senate on September 15, 2011 and subsequently launched by the President of Liberia, Her Excellency
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on February 4, 2012. The law domesticates the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC) to which Liberia is a signatory as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
(ACRWC), including the cardinal principles of the best interest of the child, non-discrimination and
participation.
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