September 30, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
A seven -man delegation from the Independent National Commission on Human Rights in Liberia (INCHR) has completed their tour, which commenced from September 18 to 28.
They were in the country to under study the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL).
The delegation was also in Sierra Leone to look at areas of study helpful to their operations in Liberia. While in the country, they were opportune to look into Inter- departmental coordination and reporting, requirement for achieving ‘A’ status, International Protocols and their ratification as national instruments, networking with other institutions of government responsible for human rights as well as CSOs, fund raising with government and donor organizations and the commission’s role in the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.
They held strategic engagements and visited various memorial sites respectively. In Freetown, they were taken on tour by their host counterpart, the HRCSL to the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA). The delegation learnt how NaCSA implemented its reparation programs and how they have handled transitional Justice Mechanisms and restorative justice. The delegation also met with the Acting Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paul Minah and some management team.
In their feedback to the Commissioners and staff of HRC-SL, Acting Chairman of INCHR, Bartholomew B. Colley, expressed gratitude to the commission for what he described as “a worthwhile study”.
He called for a close collaboration between the two Manor River Union national human rights institutions.
The Liberian delegation also visited HRCSL’s regional offices in Waterloo, Makeni, Bo and Kenema. Whilst in those regions, they held discussions with the District Human Rights Committees and engaged the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Kenema and his Commanders, the Regional Police Commanders in Kono and also the Prison Commanders in Kenema and Kono respectively.
The delegation includes; Bartholomew B. Colley (Rev.)- Acting Chairperson, Tonia A. Talery-Wills-Commissioner with Oversight for the Department of Legislative Assistance, Treaty Matters and Law, Wilfred N. Gray- Johnson- Commissioner with Oversight for the Department of Planning, Internal Monitoring and Evaluation, Herron S. Gbidi-Executive Director, Christo Gorpudolo- Coordinator, Department for Complaints and Joseph Blamiyon-Program Officer, Project Management Unit, Palava Hut Project and Willie Davies from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia.