The Government of Liberia through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America, hosted a high-profile delegation from Liberia’s Ministry of Justice, including a key figure from the War and Economics Crime Court. The significant visit highlighted and focused on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) precisely SDG-16, which underlines Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Delegates representing Liberia at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) include the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, Cllr. Charles D. F. Karmo II, Executive Director of the War and Economic Crimes Court, Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi, and Legal Expert at the United Nations, Atty. Lois Nimley (Nyenpan) Wisner.
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) visit brought significant understanding among discussants on vital issues in international relations. At the same time, Liberia’s distinguished delegation’s participation underscores Liberia’s commitment to enhancing the rule of law, thereby ensuring justice for all and establishing the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
During the July 17, 2024, High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi presented on the topic: “The Sustainable Development Goals 16 (SDG 16) in Compliance with the Role of the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia. Cllr. Massaquio presentation highlighted Liberia’s strides and challenges in upholding justice and accountability through establishing and operating the War and Economic Crimes Court.
As it’s noted, “Liberian Mission to the United Nations is to pursue Liberia’s interests in the UN and other International Organizations through international diplomacy,” which allows Liberia’s delegation to significantly engage and discuss with the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), led by the Director of the Office for Access to Justice, Rachel Rossi, who has been in her role since May 2022, previously served as Deputy Associate Attorney General. Elise Keppler, Executive Director, and Kelly Adams, Legal Advisor of the Global Justice Center, joined the meeting, as did Stephen Mathias, the Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations.
During the forum, the Liberian delegation engaged in productive discussions on justice, economics, and tackling war crimes. The cooperation between the Justice Ministry and the War and Economics Crime Court underscores Liberia’s commitment to upholding global standards of justice and accountability.
The forum also provided a platform for meaningful dialogue and the interchange of ideas, further solidifying Liberia’s stance on promoting peace, stability, and fairness internationally. The delegation’s participation signifies a proactive approach towards addressing critical global challenges.
The visit of the Liberia Justice Ministry delegation to the United Nations also marks a significant step in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its judicial system and uphold the rule of law, aligning with the global objectives set out in SDG-16.
