Delivered by Deputy Resident Representative Violet Baffour

Honorable Minister of Justice

Heads of Diplomatic Missions and representatives of UN Agencies

Heads of Donor agencies and development Partners

Head of Liberia National bar Association

The Law Reform Commission

Dean of the Law School

Civil Society Organizations

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of UNDP, let me first express appreciation to the Minister of Justice for the partnership and continuous support to the implementation of the UN Joint Rule of Law Programme.

UNDP also applauds the unmeasurable contributions of all stakeholders including the technical working group, toward the development of the Legal Aid Act that will institutionalize legal aid in Liberia, thereby increasing access to justice for vulnerable indigents who come in conflict with the law.

This draft legislation is especially unique in that it lays emphasis on supporting specific vulnerable groups including women, children, and persons with disabilities, the elderly and refugees.

It will create a legal framework for the establishment of an independent legal aid board and a funding window that support delivery of legal aid services, critical in addressing the issue of prolonged pre-trial detention.

Such service available at the pre-trial stage of the criminal justice system will significantly reduce the human rights related implications of prolonged detention and the attending consequences on the congestion of prisons.

With this legislation, Liberia will align its model of legal aid delivery with international best practices and transform the landscape by ensuring that legal services are accessible to more poor people.

UNDP is encouraging the Ministry of Justice to take the lead in mobilizing resources needed for the establishment of the legal aid fund to which development partners can contribute.

Thousands of persons live in conditions of extreme injustice, and the benefits of providing legal aid outweighs its costs. The challenges in accessing justice by vulnerable persons undermine sustainable development and increases societal costs by reinforcing poverty and social inequality. Prolonged pre-trial detention, over-crowded prisons and court dockets hinder access to justice in Liberia.

Due to inadequate legal aid services, majority of the poor and vulnerable people who attempt to pursue justice experience frustration by the lengthy and costly process, which denies them of the much sought-after remedy they need.

UNDP is therefore urging the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the National Legislature passes the law as soon as possible. Legislations and policies are only useful when implemented and transformed into reality.

The monumental work put into the development of the legislation will only bear true fruits when a market woman at Waterside, a taxi driver in Kakata, or a palm wine tapper in Borkessa, Lofa county, can apply and receive legal aid.

We also call on the Liberian National Bar Association and all lawyers to support the implementation of the law by offering their service for pro bono legal aid to indigent persons.

Let me close by reaffirming UNDP’s commitment to supporting the rule of law and access to justice in Liberia.

Thank you.