Liberian rights advocates have launched a renewed push for the abolition of the death penalty, citing its ineffectiveness in reducing crime and potential for wrongful convictions. The Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia (CSOHRAP) and Naymote Partners for Democratic Development have partnered to strengthen human rights monitoring, legislative engagement, and evidence-based advocacy aimed at advancing the abolition of the death penalty. The partnership is being implemented under the FCDO Support for the Abolition of the Death Penalty Phase III – A Strategic Advocacy Initiative.
The partnership will contribute to strengthening civil society engagement with the Liberian Legislature by monitoring legislative developments, gathering and analyzing information on lawmakers’ positions on the death penalty, and developing a standardized legislative scorecard methodology to support evidence-based advocacy. Adama Dempster, Secretary General of CSHRAP, said Liberia’s continued retention of the death penalty undermines its commitment to international human rights standards. He called on the government and Legislature to take concrete steps toward its abolition.
Liberia abolished the death penalty in 2005 but subsequently reintroduced it between 2005 and 2008 following concerns over increasing armed robberies, hijackings, and other violent crimes. However, Dempster said the decision was intended to deter criminal activities but had failed to produce the desired results. He argued that Liberia’s commitment to human rights should be reflected in its laws and policies, particularly those concerning the protection of human life.
Dempster cited Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as legal frameworks that underscore the protection of life. He also raised concerns about the possibility of wrongful convictions, particularly given Liberia’s limited forensic capacity to conclusively identify individuals involved in criminal activities. Executing a person who is later found to have been wrongfully convicted would constitute an irreversible miscarriage of justice.
Dempster maintained that Liberia could adopt alternative punishments, including life imprisonment, while strengthening its criminal justice system and improving prison facilities. He cautioned against using existing prison conditions as a justification for retaining capital punishment, arguing that prisons should focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone. Dempster said SHRAP and Naymote are intensifying engagement with lawmakers to build support for the abolition of the death penalty.
Legislative observers and interns will be stationed at the Legislature to monitor proceedings, track lawmakers’ positions, and document debates relating to the proposed abolition. The observers will monitor lawmakers who support, oppose, or abstain from decisions concerning the death penalty, providing civil society organizations with information to guide targeted advocacy. Dempster said there was political willingness within the Legislature to advance the issue, noting that the position of the Senate could provide an opportunity for further engagement with the House of Representatives.
Dempster urged lawmakers to reconsider the existing legal framework, arguing that abolishing the death penalty would strengthen Liberia’s human rights credentials and demonstrate leadership in the region. He cited countries across Africa and the world that have abolished capital punishment, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. He said Liberia should align itself with evolving international human rights standards, particularly as the country seeks to play a greater role in international affairs.
Key points
- Liberia's continued retention of the death penalty undermines its commitment to international human rights standards.
- The reintroduction of the death penalty had not reduced crimes at all, and it had not changed society in terms of serving as a lesson for those who are committing crimes daily.
- Executing a person who is later found to have been wrongfully convicted would constitute an irreversible miscarriage of justice.
