Yearly, Human Rights Day affords a second for reflection and renewed objective. This 12 months’s international theme “Our On a regular basis Necessities” reminds us that human rights will not be summary beliefs however sensible commitments that form how individuals reside, work, take part, and dream.
By Christian MUKOSA, Consultant in Liberia, Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Because the UN Secretary-Common emphasizes in his 2025 Human Rights Day message, human rights kind the inspiration of peace, dignity, and sustainable improvement, and should information nationwide decision-making in an more and more interconnected and turbulent world. The United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights has additionally echoed this attraction, stressing that human rights should be embedded in on a regular basis governance – from how establishments make selections, to how societies harness innovation, knowledge, and expertise – for the frequent good. These inspiring messages body the progress Liberia has made this 12 months, and the work that is still forward.
In 2025, Liberia made nice strides in the direction of constructing a reputable and victim-centered transitional justice course of, marking a brand new period of nationwide momentum in the direction of accountability and reconciliation. Working carefully with authorities establishments, civil society, integrity our bodies, and communities, OHCHR supported the strengthening of Liberia’s transitional justice structure. The Workplace for the Institution of a Battle and Financial Crimes Court docket for Liberia (OWECC- L) turned operational and geared up to begin advising the Authorities on the courts’ institution. Moreover, greater than 260 civil society actors together with girls, youth, individuals with disabilities, teachers, journalists and members of marginalized and at-risk communities have been educated to advocate for inclusive transitional justice, and journalists and editors have been educated on moral, victim-centered reporting., Nationwide dialogues helped form a shared imaginative and prescient for fact, accountability, reparations, and ensures of non-recurrence. These efforts embody the Secretary Common’s name to guard fact and justice wherever they’re threatened.
Liberia additionally took encouraging steps to enhance accountable enterprise conduct, strengthening inclusive progress and enterprise duty following its adoption in August 2024 of the Nationwide Motion Plan on Enterprise and Human Rights (NAPBHR 2024–2028). OHCHR supported nationwide consciousness and monitoring missions to Nimba, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu counties, bringing collectively authorities establishments, native leaders, employees, concession-affected communities, and the non-public sector. These engagements improved dialogue on truthful labour practices, group rights, and environmental issues, and led to the formation of a Enterprise and Human Rights CSO Community in Western Liberia. OHCHR additionally supported the Nationwide Steering Committee on Enterprise and Human Rights and held focused engagements with main companies, strengthening shared understanding of the UN Guiding Ideas on Enterprise and Human Rights and selling accountable company conduct.
Within the space of human rights mechanisms, Liberia’s Fourth-Cycle Common Periodic Assessment (UPR) marked a milestone. With OHCHR’s technical and monetary assist, the Authorities submitted a high-quality knowledge pushed nationwide report on time, whereas civil society, the UN Nation workforce and the Impartial Nationwide Fee on Human Rights (INCHR) submitted their stakeholders’ stories respectively. Over 180 stakeholders have been educated on drafting, coordination, and reporting requirements. Liberia’s profitable presentation earlier than the UPR Working Group in Geneva on 3 November 2025 led by the Minister of Justice resulted in 245 suggestions from 78 States. OHCHR additionally supported the finalization of Liberia’s long-overdue Preliminary Report back to the Committee In opposition to Torture, advancing efforts to clear treaty reporting backlogs. Work in the direction of establishing a Nationwide Preventive Mechanism underneath the optionally available protocol to the conference towards torture superior as OHCHR facilitated a subcommittee on the prevention of torture advisory mission and strengthened nationwide capacities to watch locations of detention. These achievements converse on to the Excessive Commissioner’s name that human rights mechanisms are central to accountability, public belief, and stronger governance.
OHCHR’s work in combating discrimination additionally expanded considerably. All through 2025, greater than 500 individuals together with native leaders, police, educators, well being employees, non secular actors, and members of marginalized and at-risk-led networks- participated in dialogues, joint area missions, and capacity-building classes aimed toward decreasing stigma and defending susceptible teams. Monitoring missions to Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Nimba, and Buchanan helped to strengthen documentation of violations and deepen group consciousness. OHCHR labored with members of marginalized and at-risk communities to boost security networks, advocacy abilities, and assist present buildings. In parallel, OHCHR collaborated with nationwide authorities to assist the mapping of labour legal guidelines and employees within the casual financial system challenge to advance inclusive labour reforms, promote safety and respectable work together with for migrants.
Civic participation and youth engagement remained a core space of progress. OHCHR educated 12 youth and women-led organizations in digital literacy, on-line security, and human rights advocacy, enabling them to achieve greater than 4,000 group members. Nationwide coaching on digital rights, cybercrime, and knowledge safety geared up youth leaders, authorities officers, and different stakeholders together with the Liberian Bar Affiliation with sensible instruments for protected digital engagement. OHCHR additionally collaborated with INCHR, UN Girls, and youth organizations to coach younger individuals on human rights monitoring, ensuing within the submission of high quality stories. The Workplace additional engaged with incarcerated youth, making certain their voices are mirrored in nationwide discussions on justice and rehabilitation. OHCHR additionally strengthened the institutional capability of the INCHR by way of a nationwide retreat, coaching of area screens, and assist to enhance inner coordination and responsiveness to complaints.
Throughout all these areas, OHCHR’s work in Liberia displays the central message of Human Rights Day 2025: that human rights should be lived, practiced, defended, and superior by way of on a regular basis selections and on a regular basis management. Because the Excessive Commissioner reminded the world, human rights are “optimistic, important, and attainable,” and Liberia’s progress this 12 months is proof that when establishments, communities, and companions work collectively, human rights can grow to be options that rework individuals’s lives.
Wanting forward, Liberia stands at a defining second. Sustaining the progress made in 2025 would require stronger accountability programs, deeper safety for susceptible teams, and continued implementation of Common Periodic Assessment (UPR) and treaty our bodies’ suggestions. As governance, the financial system, and civic areas evolve, technological innovation will play an more and more pivotal position. Digital instruments, knowledge, and new types of civic engagement can develop entry to justice, strengthen transparency, and safeguard rights. Harnessing these improvements ethically and inclusively shall be key to making sure that the enjoyment of human rights turns into a actuality for all. OHCHR Liberia stays dedicated to supporting the Authorities and all companions in constructing a future the place our rights actually form our shared future.
