The courtroom is meant to be a place of certainty where laws are applied and justice is delivered. Yet for many survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based violence (SGBV) in Liberia, that experience has often felt uncertain marked by long delays, complex procedures, and the quiet fear of not being fully heard.
For them, justice is more than a verdict. It is safety. It is dignity. It is the chance to speak without fear. In Ganta City, that conversation continues.
From May 7–8, forty Public Defenders from across Liberia’s fifteen judicial circuits gathered for a focused training aimed at reshaping how SGBV cases are handled in the courtroom under the theme of enhancing expertise in Liberia’s amended Rape Law, SGBV provisions and juvenile court procedures”.
Organized by the Judiciary of Liberia through the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute, under the EU-funded Spotlight Initiative managed by UNDP, the training forms part of a broader effort to strengthen justice delivery and rebuild public trust.
Opening the session, His Honor Judge Musa S. Sidibey, Resident Judge of the Sexual Offenses Court in Nimba County, underscored the weight of the role Public Defenders play.
“Public defense is an essential component of access to justice,” he said. “Despite the challenges you face, your commitment to defending indigent citizens remains vital to ensuring fairness in our justice system.”
His remarks acknowledged a system under pressure and one strained by limited resources, heavy caseloads, and procedural delays that affect everyone who passes through it.
For survivors, delays can mean prolonged trauma and uncertainty. For defendants, particularly those without legal means, they often mean extended pretrial detention with little clarity on when justice will come.
Speaking on behalf of UNDP, Program Associate Marzu Quaye emphasized that addressing SGBV requires more than legal frameworks. It requires stronger institutions and well-equipped justice actors.
“Sexual and Gender-Based Violence is not only a criminal justice issue, but also a profound development challenge. It undermines human dignity, erodes public trust in institutions, and weakens social cohesion.”
Spotlight Initiative Programme Coordinator Deodata Mukazayire emphasized the need to address violence against women and girls, harmful practices, and sexual and reproductive health rights.
She highlighted key gaps, including inadequate knowledge among justice actors, limited awareness of laws among survivors, and insufficient expertise in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among defenders.
“Insensitive questioning retraumatizes victims and can undermine cases,” Mukazayire warned, adding, “If I say something and you laugh, I will stop.”
She added that the training promotes survivor-centered, trauma-informed practice. “We commend James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute for institutionalizing this effort and encourage active participation and practical application to improve SGBV case management across Liberia”.
Inside the training, the agenda covered familiar ground including legal frameworks, trial procedures, and evidence standards, as well as the Amended Rape Law and the Domestic Violence Act of 2019. But the deeper transformation happened beyond the presentations.
Through candid discussions and shared experiences, participants examined a more complex question. Not just how justice is delivered, but how it is experienced.
Public Defenders spoke openly about the challenges they face, balancing the duty to rigorously defend the accused while navigating cases that carry deep emotional weight.
They explored how courtroom practices, tone, questioning, and timing can either protect dignity or unintentionally increase harm.
The conversation gradually shifted from systems to people, from procedure to experience.
What does justice feel like for a survivor recounting trauma in open court?
What does it mean for a defendant to wait months, even years, for trial?
These questions, often absent from legal texts, became central to the discussion.
By the second day, a noticeable shift had taken place. Participants began to rethink what defines a successful trial, not only legal outcomes, but whether the process itself upholds fairness, dignity, and humanity.
This is the essence of justice reform taking place in Liberia today. A recognition that strengthening systems begins with building the capacities of the people who operate within them.
As the training closed, there were no immediate headlines or verdicts to mark the moment, only quiet commitments.
Forty Public Defenders will return to their courts carrying new knowledge and renewed purpose.
Their impact will unfold gradually in handling of cases faster, more measured questioning, stronger adherence to due process, and growing confidence among those who seek justice.
But perhaps most importantly, it will be felt. Felt in courtrooms where justice is no longer distant or intimidating, but accessible, fair, human, and honors the dignity of every person it serves.
