The President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) Atty. Philomena T. Williams says there is a need for governmental coordination for the removal of barriers in accessing justice. Speaking at the Liberia National Bar Association’s (LNBA) National Convention in Ganta, Nimba County, on Friday, November 29, 2024, Atty. Williams said the legal system needs government intervention and funding to ensure a comprehensive rebranding of the Judiciary, thereby ensuring access to justice for all as guaranteed under the Constitution of Liberia. She said the challenge to the Rule of Law has the propensity to erode the peace and security of Liberia.
As judicial actors, Atty. Williams said law enforcement officers must exert and combine the very best efforts to remove the barriers that hinder the fair and equitable access to justice, which is critical to restoring confidence in the justice system.
The AFELL president said that the Legislative Impasse at the House of Representatives places challenges to the rule of law that may erode the peace and security of Liberia. She said AFELL views the action of the government in recent times relating to legislative leadership as a challenge to the Rule of Law, which has the propensity to erode peace and security.
AFELL calls on the three branches of government to effectively coordinate the governance of the Liberian people. She said AFELL has for over 30 years through its Legal Aid Clinic provided access to Justice for the people of Liberia through mediation and litigation. However, providing Access to Justice “for all” is a challenge.
Atty. Williams stated that as AFELL provides pro-bono legal services to many, the association is faced with additional barriers that prevent an increase in access to justice and the success of the justice system. She said the three branches of government are not coordinating as provided for in the Constitution and are not encouraging adherence to the rule of law, but rather are concerned about interference.
She said to achieve the principles of separate but coordinated branches of government, the Constitution articulates many checks and balances among the three branches of the government. She said the rule of law provides benchmarks in the separation of power and check and balance, separating the powers to legislate, to execute, and to adjudicate; adding that, no one branch of government is more powerful than the other, nor above the rule of law.
“The issue of access to justice for all, is a fundamental human rights issue,” she said. “Hence, the theme of this convention, ‘Consolidating Efforts to Strengthen Quality Services to Increase Access to Justice for ALL’ is welcoming and of absolute interest to AFELL,” she said. Atty. Williams: “Our appreciation to our international partners, our current partners Clooney Foundation For Justice (Waging Justice for Women), Dignity, and UN Women/Peace Building Fund for funding access to Justice for women in Liberia.”
She recognized Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh’s efforts to rebrand the Judiciary, by ensuring automation of records, enhancing structural access to justice and other reforms intended to increase efficiency and improve the justice system.
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
