‘War Crimes Perpetrators Will Be Prosecuted,’ Human Rights Commission Pushes For Retributive Justice

Monrovia, Liberia: In an unwavering step to ensure perpetrators of war crimes atrocities account for their heinous involvement in Liberia’s fourteen years of brutal armed conflict through retributive justice, the Chairman of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), Cllr. Dempster Brown, has assured victims of the civil war that individuals culpable of wartime atrocities will be prosecuted.

The renowned human rights lawyer maintains that whether through national courts or international channels, all those who bear responsibility for the decimation of nearly 250,000 innocent Liberians will face the full weight of the law.

Addressing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's renewal of Executive Order No. 148 during a press conference held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Monrovia, Cllr. Brown lavished praise on the President for renewing Executive Order No. 148, which intends to pave the pathway for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court of Liberia.

According to Cllr. Dempster, the allocation of two million United States dollars by the Boakai-Koung-led administration to fast-strike modalities of the court establishment is a noteworthy milestone in the fight against impunity for war crimes and massacres.

The fund is expected to be disbursed quarterly to the office of the War and Economic Crimes Court and will be shielded from political interference.

Cllr. Brown: “The Commission highly appreciates the President for renewing Executive Order 148. In this order, the President clearly mandates that $2 million be allocated to the War and Economic Crimes Court and that payments be made quarterly.”

Brown further expressed the INCHR’s commitment to supporting the efforts aimed at ensuring justice is served. 

He disclosed that the commission has already begun constructing memorials in various parts of the country in honor of war victims.

He shared alarming findings from the commission's recent visits to River Gee and Lofa Counties, where, according to him, mass graves were uncovered. 

"We discovered approximately 200,000 metric areas of mass graves, especially in Lofa County’s Voinjama District. We recently uncovered one such grave in River Gee," he disclosed. 

He announced that the commission is working on constructing memorials; an effort he says the Government of Liberia has contributed US$24,000 to support the initiative.

Cllr. Brown also emphasized the urgent need for public education, particularly in rural communities, to raise awareness on the importance of the War and Economic Crimes Court

"We need public awareness campaigns to educate citizens, particularly in rural areas, about the court’s purpose and importance. We are calling on the government to facilitate public hearings and outreach efforts where mass graves have been identified,” Brown stated.

The INCHR boss also issued a stern warning to any individual or group of individuals attempting to engage in acts that have the proclivity to destabilize the country of dire consequences.

Cllr. Brown emphasized the Commission's readiness to collaborate with international partners to ensure perpetrators of violence face the full weight of justice, even if the War and Economic Crimes Court is not yet fully operational.

“Let it be known that anyone who causes violence and loss of life in this country will be brought to justice even if the War and Economic Crimes Court is not yet established. We will work with the international community to ensure perpetrators are sent to The Hague, just like Charles Taylor,” Brown warned.

He indicated that the era of impunity in Liberia is over, declaring that Liberia is entering a new chapter, one that is guided by the respect for human rights, the rule of law, and justice.

Cllr. Brown reaffirmed INCHR's commitment to working alongside government institutions, civil society, and international partners to ensure the successful establishment and smooth function of the War and Economic Crimes Court.