A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

• The Government of Liberia should undertake as quickly as possible to comply with Article
9 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination requiring a
“report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted
and which give effect to the provisions of this Convention.” In submitting its report to the
United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Liberia should
pay particular attention to reviewing the current status of its laws relative to the right to a
nationality, 356 the right to property, 357 and the right to inherit, 358 as well as the full scope of
economic, social, and cultural rights. 359
Potential Implementation Strategy: Constitutional Protections against Discrimination
The Ugandan constitution provides for a wide array of protected classes. “(1) All persons are equal
before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other
respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law. (2) Without prejudice to clause (1) of this article, a
person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth,
creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability. (3) For the purposes of this
article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly
to their respective descriptions by sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social
or economic standing, political opinion or disability. (4) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament
from enacting laws that are necessary for— (a) implementing policies and programmes aimed at
redressing social, economic, educational or other imbalance in society; or (b) making such provision as
is required or authorised to be made under this Constitution; or (c) providing for any matter acceptable
and demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” 360 The constitution of Malawi prohibits
discrimination on the basis of several enumerated statuses as well as “other status.” 361
• The Government of Liberia should welcome the offer of the Committee on the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination to send a representative to visit Liberia and to initiate dialogue on
full and effective implementation of its obligations under the Convention. 362
Protection of Minorities: Education
• The Government of Liberia should
ensure that its national educational
policy is developed in compliance
with international standards on
non-discrimination, in particular
the Convention against Discrimination
in Education, which
Liberia ratified in 1962. 363 The
policy should expressly include
non-discrimination measures and
466
Potential Implementation Strategy:
Bilingual Education
Many children learn most effectively when they learn
through the medium of their first language; however,
providing primary education in all Liberian indigenous
languages likely would prove an insurmountable barrier.
U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation
suggests that bilingual education in an official language
and in an indigenous language is an appropriate
strategy to ensure that children have equal opportunity
to learn and maintain their cultural heritage. 364