MONROVIA – The Liberia Human Rights Chapter, Inc (LHRC) has lamented the growing number of protests in different sectors of the Liberian society and economy said there is a compelling reason to propagate, disseminate and educate concerted and transit audiences about the guiding national and international principles and norms on the parts of the state and non-State actors in understanding their respective responsibilities and rights to freedom of assembly and association.
In a release signed by the organizations Executive Director, Harry Sie Brooks, the organization recounted the series of protests that Montserrado County has witnessed. The organization recalled the those protests as major street protests involving the Campaigners and Victims for Justice, calling for the establishment of war and economic crimes court (2017); the Bring Our Money Back protest (2018); the District #13 electoral violence (2018); marketers in the Goba-Chop market, who called for the removal of garbage from their selling areas (2019); the historic June 7 protest (2019); the family of late student Odell Sherman demanding justice (2019); the Montserrado District #15 electoral violence, Women of Liberia, who called for the protection of their rights (2019); riot at Liberty Party Headquarters (2019).
Others include riot at the National Elections Commission (NEC) that brought Jestina Taylor in the picture (2019); the health workers protest (2019); the pregnant women protest in Duport Road as a result of the health workers protest (2019); the protest at Catholic Hospital to release Jestina Taylor (2019); as well as the one that encountered the recent closure and subsequent looting of Roots FM in October 2019. Currently, the MCSS students protest on 15 October 2019 respectively.
“The Liberia Human Rights Chapter, Inc.(LHRC), with technical support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is pleased to present and inform you of its public awareness outreach project on the “Responsibilities and Rights to Freedom of Assembly and of Association”, under the theme “Keep the Peace, Maintain the Peace, the organization said in a release.
The Liberia Human Rights Chapter, Inc (LHRC) said the project targets politicians, leaders and members of civil society organizations, state security actors, duty bearers, and youth leaders of all political parties, women group leaders, university students leaders, leaders and members of foreign minorities, students, teachers and market people.
The organization said the awareness outreach is being conducted in nineteen (19) major communities predominately in rural and upper Montserrado County. “The overarching objectives are: Citizens will know the core responsibilities attached to the exercise of the rights to freedom of association and assembly; Citizens will know the risks and threats attached to the two major types of protests: nonviolent (peaceful) and violent protests; Citizens will know the relevance and importance of being law abiding and peaceful; Citizens will be peaceful and take part only in nonviolent peaceful protests, the organization added.
The group added hope you keep your responsibility to be focused on your assembly and remain peaceful before, during and after your assembly.”
