Restorative Justice in Liberia
Transformation Collaborative is partnered with Liberia’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Technical Working Group alongside various Liberian peace organizations, community groups and governmental agencies.
Initiative Overview
In partnership with local Liberian NGOs and the Liberian Department of Justice we are part of a long-term initiative to formally integrate restorative justice practices into the court system in Liberia.
There is a need for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) programming on a national scale to address issues such as overcrowded court dockets and to provide consistent training and implementation of restorative practices across the country.
ADR will help address human rights violations in the current justice system and make justice more accessible to poor and vulnerable populations in Liberia.
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Policy Advocacy
As we seek to move ADR forward to being adopted as policy nationally, one of our focuses is on implementing ADR policy advocacy training for stakeholders at the government level. We have recently hit a huge milestone in this initiative as the Liberian government endorsed the National Policy on ADR, thereby allowing the process of developing the ADR Act/Legislation for Liberia to commence. As a result, we are currently at a critical moment in moving forward with policy advocacy in the country.
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Training
A significant part of implementing ADR in Liberia is carrying out capacity building activities through in-person and online training such as:
- Carrying out a training of trainers in ADR approaches;
- Seting up master training activities on sensitive ADR reporting and case management;
- Recognizing and striving to further strengthen the authorities and jurisdictions of the clan, chieftaincy and traditional structures, as first instances of ADR disputes resolution particularly in traditional settings, in order to hear and resolve both civil and minor misdemeanor criminal offenses aimed specifically at reducing court dockets and decongesting pre-trial and minor offenses detention centers.
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Liberia is community-focused and community-funded.
Take a listen.
Listen to our interview with Transformation Collaborative’s Liberia Country Director, Richard Agbaje on the TCollab Podcast. Richard shares about his work with ADR in Liberia and Transformation Collaborative's role in supporting the initiative. Support the work here.
Richard Agbaje, Liberia Country Director