Monrovia - The UNMIL Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Waldemar Vrey, today commended the judiciary in Liberia for taking necessary steps to address the human capacity challenges occasioned by 14 years of civil war through the establishment and utilization of the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute.

“We know that the rule of law has been a struggle in Liberia.  But we also recognise the progress that has been made,”- said Mr. Vrey at the second graduation of the Professional Magistrates Training Program at the Temple of Justice, Monrovia. He added, “We know that the rule of law will be essential for Liberia’s long-term peace and stability and for upholding the gains made over the past 13 years.”

He said that the tenets of the rule of law cannot be sustained without the function of judiciary and well trained and knowledgeable judges and magistrates.

Sixty magistrates completed the year-long training program aimed at developing a cadre of professionally trained magistrates to be deployed in the rural parts of Liberia as associate magistrates to enhance access to justice in rural Liberia. The training commenced in April 2016 with support from the Government of Sweden. In 2011, the Institute graduated its first batch of sixty professional magistrates through the support of the Government of Germany, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UNMIL. These magistrates are currently deployed in various magisterial courts in the country.

Mr. Vrey reminded the new associate magistrates that since they will be the first point of contact for Liberians with the judiciary, it is their responsibility to discharge their duties with impartiality, with respect for the protection of fundamental human rights and with the key knowledge of law, that will largely bolster the rule of law in Liberia.  

The UNMIL official also re-affirmed ongoing support of the United Nations to the judiciary arm of Liberia’s government through a joint program spearheaded by UNDP beyond the departure of UNMIL next year.

The event was also attended by Liberia’s Chief Justice, Francis S. Korkpor Sr., Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia Philips A. Z. Banks III, Kabineh M. Ja’neh and Sie-A-Nyene G. Youh, Court Administration, Cllr. Elizabeth J. Nelson, high-ranking government officials and members of the international community.