IPNEWS: Efforts to overhaul Liberia’s strained justice system gained momentum this week as national and international partners endorsed the harmonization of two competing legal aid draft bills into a single, unified legislation.
Liberia has long grappled with severe justice-sector bottlenecks overcrowded courts, prolonged pre-trial detention, limited legal representation, and densely packed prisons.
These challenges continue to disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable Liberians who lack resources to navigate the justice system.
In response, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), drafted a comprehensive Legal Aid Bill in 2021 aimed at establishing a national framework for legal assistance.
A parallel bill focusing on gender-related legal aid was later developed by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Though both drafts seek to expand justice services, they differ in scope: the MOJ’s version adopts a systemwide approach, while the Gender Ministry’s draft zeroes in on gender-based vulnerabilities.
After years of discussion, Liberia is now working to merge the two into what could become the country’s first-ever Legal Aid Act.
To drive this process, the Center for Legal Aid Support Services (CLASS) convened a three-day national consultation with support from ActionAid Liberia, UNDP, and the European Union.
The meeting drew representatives from the Law Reform Commission (LRC), civil society organizations, international NGOs, and officials of both the Justice and Gender ministries.
The consultations resulted in broad consensus around major components of the proposed law, including
Creation of a national legal aid framework defining roles, responsibilities, and standards for service providers;
Establishment of an independent Legal Aid Board to coordinate and oversee services nationwide;
A Legal Aid Fund to ensure sustainable financing;, guaranteed right to legal aid for individuals unable to afford representation;
Justice sector reforms targeting prolonged pre-trial detention and court congestion;
A gender-responsive, human-rights-based approach to support vulnerable populations.
The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) has been a vocal proponent of legal aid legislation.
Speaking at the workshop’s closing ceremony, Cllr. Felicia Coleman, Vice Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission, praised the collaborative effort.
“This engagement was necessary, and we appreciate everyone who sacrificed their time,” she said.
“Your comments will help finalize the consolidated bill for presentation to the Legislature.”
With the harmonization now nearing completion, stakeholders say the consolidated bill represents a critical step toward ensuring equal access to justice in Liberia.
UNDP and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting governance reforms and strengthening national institutions as the country prepares to submit the bill to lawmakers.
If passed, the law would mark a historic shift bringing Liberia closer to a more equitable, efficient, and inclusive justice system. By Amos Harris
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