Training police helps safeguard human rights in Liberia’s elections
“These trainings ensure our officers understand their responsibilities and help create a safer and fairer electoral process,” explained Carter N. James, assistant police chief for in-service training at the Liberia Police Academy.
Liberia faces significant challenges in the electoral process, often affected by tensions and conflicts between political parties. As the country strives to solidify its democratic foundations, the importance of human rights awareness in law enforcement has become critical.
Against this backdrop, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights played an important role in providing training and resources to the Liberian police with the aim of fostering a culture of respect for human rights during the election period and beyond.
In recent years, the Office has worked with various Liberian stakeholders to improve law enforcement capacity to protect citizens’ rights. The move is particularly important for a country still recovering from the trauma of civil war.
The training program focuses on providing police with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively manage election security while upholding human rights standards, with more than 3,000 election security officers (741 of them women) nationwide taking part from July to October 2023 received training. Ensuring that law enforcement is conducted within a framework that respects the rights of all citizens is critical to preventing human rights violations during elections.
For Deputy Commissioner Saymor Mulbah, the significant impact of the training on law enforcement is a deeper understanding of human rights.
“(Through) training, our officers understand their responsibility to ensure a safe voting environment that allows citizens to freely express their rights,” Mulba said.
Training programs promoted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights cover a variety of human rights topics, including the use of force, crowd control, voter rights and gender equality. This approach has proven effective in reducing confrontation during elections and promoting a more peaceful environment.
Through these initiatives, police saw a significant reduction in human rights violations during the election period.
“We have had no major cases of police brutality reported and our officers acted with integrity. Even if someone attempted to campaign on Election Day, October 10, 2023, our officers would intervene peacefully and interpret election laws,” Mulba said.
For James, the knowledge he gained made him a more effective leader.
“I understand the critical balance between maintaining order and respecting human rights, which is vital to building public trust,” he added.
Cooperation between the Liberian police and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights shows a positive shift toward a future where human rights are integral to law enforcement.
“Through continued support and training, we can further strengthen our ability to protect the rights of all citizens and ensure peaceful elections for years to come,” James said.
As Liberia moves forward, the police force’s commitment to human rights training demonstrates the transformative power of education and collaboration.
“We need to inform them (law enforcement officers) of their role … so that there is no intimidation of any kind and so that the election can be considered free of security intimidation,” James said.
The ongoing efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights not only address immediate challenges but also lay the foundation for a more democratic and secure future for all Liberians.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
