Looking for Justice in Liberia

As Liberia continues its struggle to rebuild institutions destroyed by years of brutal conflict, the rule of law has emerged as a focus area of national and international development efforts.  A key policy question concerns the future of Liberia’s dual justice system under which a hierarchy of chiefs’ courts managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs exists in parallel to the formal judiciary. 

Deborah Isser and co-author Dr. Stephen Lubkemann will present the findings of their ten month field study just published in the report, “Looking for Justice:  Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options.”  This groundbreaking study examines how Liberians navigate between the formal and customary justice systems in pursuit of justice, and what has been the impact of various justice policies on their efforts.  The report further presents an analytical and practical framework to assist the Liberian government and the international community to develop evidence-based policy options for expanding the rule of law and consolidating peace over the next decade in Liberia in ways that account for the role of customary law and grassroots understandings of justice.  Joining the authors to discuss to the Liberian government’s continued efforts to address justice reform will be the Chairman of Liberia’s Law Reform and Governance Commissions. 

Read  "Looking for Justice: Liberian Experiences with and Perceptions of Local Justice Options."

Speakers

• Deborah Isser,
  Senior Rule of Law Advisor, Rule of Law Center of Innovation, United States Institute of Peace
• Stephen Lubkemann,
  Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, George Washington University
• Philip A.Z. Banks,
  Chair, Liberia Law Reform Commission & Former Liberian Minister of Justice
• Dorina Bekoe,
  Senior Research Associate, Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention, United States Institute of Peace