Gbonyea Town, Bong County —The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) has renewed its call for justice and accountability in Liberia, emphasizing that memorialization and truth-telling are vital steps toward national healing and lasting peace.
Speaking at the dedication of a US$31,000 memorial in Gbonyea Town—honoring more than 500 victims of the 1994 massacre—Caroline Da Silva Sousa, Human Rights Officer at the Office of the OHCHR, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s transitional justice process, including the establishment of the long-awaited War and Economic Crimes Court.
“Remembering and acknowledging past human rights violations is essential for truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. This memorial honors the victims, including women and children, and ensures that what happened here will never be forgotten,” Sousa said.
She recalled that the massacre occurred on December 10, 1994—Human Rights Day, turning what should have been a celebration of global human dignity into one of Liberia’s darkest chapters.
“Instead of celebrating human rights that day, Gbonyea suffered immense loss,” she lamented.
She emphasized that memorialization is not merely symbolic, but a critical part of rebuilding trust between citizens and the state.
“The United Nations will continue to stand with victims, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), the government, and civil society in advancing a victim-centered and holistic justice process. The War and Economic Crimes Court must be a key part of that journey,” Sousa added.
The memorial project was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the INCHR as part of the UN’s transitional justice program in Liberia.
According to the UNDP, the initiative aims to promote inclusive remembrance and local ownership of justice, ensuring that communities most affected by the war actively participate in preserving their memories and demanding accountability.
Also speaking at the event, Martin Nlonjae Toe, Chairman of the Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia (TJWG), described the dedication of the Gbonyea Town Memorial Center as a moment of quiet reflection—hearts heavy yet filled with love and determination to honor the innocent victims whose lives were taken by the cruelty of war.
Toe noted that in Liberia, a nation marked by resilience and courage, communities are bound by deep ties of family, friendship, and faith.
“The loss of even one life sends ripples through generations—touching hearts, shaping memories, and reminding us of our shared humanity. Today is not merely a day of grief, but a celebration of the lives that once brightened our homes, our neighborhoods, and our nation. We remember the wisdom of our elders, the laughter of our children, the strength of our sisters and brothers who were helplessly slaughtered, and the grace of every soul who once walked this land with love and hope,” he said.
Toe emphasized that although the victims’ voices no longer echo in daily conversations, their legacies endure—living on in the kindness Liberians show one another, in stories shared around family gatherings, and in songs sung beneath the Liberian sky.
“Let this memorial stand as a call for unity—not just to mourn, but to rebuild, to heal, and to uplift our nation. “Let the legacy of those we have lost inspire us to be better—kinder, braver, and more just—so that never again will betrayal and hatred divide us,” he urged.
He concluded by describing the memorial, built in partnership with the Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD), as a lasting symbol of remembrance, justice, and reconciliation.
“May the blood of the innocent water the tree of freedom and justice—so that Liberia may heal, rise, and stand as one nation again.”
The ceremony brought together representatives of the UN, government officials, civil society actors, and community members—all united in honoring the memory of those lost and reaffirming the call for truth, justice, and reconciliation in Liberia.
