A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Section vi. economic, Social, and cultural rightS
An overriding concern of statement givers in the diaspora was the sustainable and equitable
development of Liberia’s people, infrastructure, and natural resources. Statement givers generally
outlined rebuilding of schools, hospitals, and roads as paramount priorities. Sanitation, electricity,
business investment, and agriculture were also important. The right to sustainable and equitable
development is already enshrined in Liberia’s constitution, which states that the government “shall,
consistent with the principles of individual freedom and social justice…manage the national economy
and the natural resources of Liberia in such manner as shall ensure the maximum feasible participation
of Liberian citizens under conditions of equality [so] as to advance the general welfare of the Liberian
people and the economic development of Liberia.” 301 In addition, the Liberian constitution provides
for equal access to education and employment. 302
Much action and planning related to sustainable and equitable development in Liberia, including
education and healthcare, is already underway as part of the national Poverty Reduction Strategy. This
strategy document provides policy guidance for development priorities in Liberia and should receive
the support of national, regional, and international actors, donors, and policy makers.
Apart from these domestic initiatives, the Government of Liberia has ratified the main international
treaty that pertains to these issues – the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights. Although many of the international principles relevant to sustainable and equitable development
and economic and social rights are not contained in any treaty, the Government of Liberia should
undertake the following actions with regard to international treaties:
• Dedicate appropriate and sufficient resources to submit its initial periodic report to the
CESCR;
• Ratify and incorporate into domestic law International Labour Organisation (No. 117) Social
Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention;
• Work toward the full implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the
Rights of the Child in its 2004 concluding observations relating to education;
• Dedicate appropriate and sufficient resources to submit its report to the Secretary-General
of the OAU describing the measures taken to give effect to the rights set forth in the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; 303
• Ratify and incorporate into domestic law the Convention on Technical and Vocational
Education, which sets forth the standards relating to the development of technical and
vocational education;
• Dedicate appropriate and sufficient resources to submit all due and overdue periodic reports
to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
without delay, and dedicate appropriate and sufficient resources to submit its second and
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