MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Ahead of the proposed establishment of Liberia’s long-awaited War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and National Anti-Corruption Court (NACC), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), with financial support from the Government of Sweden, has donated critical information technology equipment and institutional support materials to the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA).
The donation ceremony, held at the Bar’s headquarters in Monrovia, forms part of ongoing international efforts to strengthen Liberia’s legal and accountability institutions as the country moves closer to implementing transitional justice mechanisms recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The items presented included laptops, printers, internet modems, stationery, and internet access support intended to enhance the operational capacity of the LNBA and its legal aid clinics in Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Bong Counties.
According to organizers, the support is specifically aimed at strengthening the ability of legal practitioners and legal clinics to actively participate in accountability, transitional justice, and anti-corruption initiatives tied to the proposed courts.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony on Friday, May 22, 2026, OHCHR Representative in Liberia Christian Mukosa reaffirmed the UN human rights body’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s efforts to establish credible, inclusive, and victim-centered justice mechanisms.
“By preparing the LNBA national office and its legal clinics with these resources, we are reinforcing national efforts to advance accountability for past and current human rights violations and ensure that justice is both accessible and meaningful for all,” Mukosa stated.
He stressed that continued collaboration with national legal institutions remains essential to ensuring that the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and related accountability mechanisms are grounded in strong legal and human rights principles.
According to OHCHR, the assistance will also help expand the LNBA’s legal advisory services to victims and affected communities, particularly in matters involving alleged war crimes, economic crimes, corruption, and human rights violations.
Representing the Government of Sweden, First Secretary Susanna Elmberger reaffirmed Sweden’s support for Liberia’s governance and justice sector reforms.
She emphasized that strengthening legal institutions is critical to ensuring fair, transparent, and internationally credible transitional justice processes.
Sweden has remained one of Liberia’s longstanding international partners supporting governance reform, accountability, human rights, and peacebuilding initiatives following the country’s civil conflicts.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Bar, leaders of the Liberia National Bar Association expressed appreciation to OHCHR and the Swedish Government for their continued support at what they described as a crucial moment in Liberia’s reconciliation and justice journey.
The Bar noted that the support would enhance its ongoing advocacy and public engagement efforts surrounding the proposed establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court.
The Liberia National Bar Association has emerged as one of the country’s leading legal institutions advocating for the creation of both courts, working alongside civil society organizations, international partners, victims’ groups, and human rights advocates.
For years, Liberia has faced growing domestic and international pressure to establish a war crimes tribunal to address atrocities committed during the country’s civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which left an estimated 250,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
The proposed War and Economic Crimes Court would seek to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and major economic crimes linked to Liberia’s conflicts.
Meanwhile, the proposed National Anti-Corruption Court is intended to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to prosecute corruption-related offenses and improve accountability in public service.
The Boakai administration has recently intensified efforts toward advancing both initiatives, including submitting draft legislation to the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate for consideration.
The latest support from OHCHR and Sweden is expected to further strengthen the LNBA’s institutional readiness and advocacy efforts as Liberia inches closer to confronting decades of alleged wartime atrocities and corruption through formal judicial mechanisms.
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