A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights, 408 the Independent
National Commission on Human Rights should:
o Be given a broad mandate, with rights and obligations clearly set forth in statutory
and/or constitutional domestic law. 409
o Be granted the power to, without endorsement or authorization from a higher
government agency, review or investigate any human rights situation it so desires,
and to submit to the government a report, recommendation, or opinion concerning
such a situation, which it may then publicize at its discretion.
o Be responsible for monitoring and encouraging the observance of regional and
international human rights treaties to which Liberia is a party. 410 The Commission
should also contribute to any human rights reports the government is required to
submit under any treaty obligations. 411
o Have the authority to hear individual complaints regarding alleged human rights
violations, to advise the complainant of the available remedies, and to transmit the
complaint to the competent authorities along with the Commission’s views and
recommendations pertaining to the complaint. 412
o Seek assistance in strengthening the capacity to promote and protect human rights
in Liberia by participating in and seeking accreditation from the National Human
Rights Institutions Forum, as well as the Network of National Human Rights
Institutions in West Africa.
• As a matter of priority, the president should make
appointments to the Independent National Commission
on Human Rights and expedite its operations. 413
• The Government of Liberia should formally direct all
ministries and relevant government entities to provide
full support to the Independent National Commission on
Human Rights in its efforts to ensure implementation of
TRC recommendations.
• The Government of Liberia should ensure sufficient
time, staff, and budgetary resources to comply with the
statutory directive obligating the Head of State to report
to the National Legislature on a quarterly basis regarding
implementation of the TRC recommendations. 414 The
process of reporting on implementation should be public,
transparent, and undertaken in consultation with the
Independent National Commission on Human Rights, civil society, and other relevant
stakeholders.
• The Government of Liberia and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights
should act immediately to facilitate the participation of Liberian civil society organizations in
monitoring the implementation of TRC recommendations.
478
Potential Implementation
Strategy: Budgeting for the
TRC Recommendations
Government ministries
should consider including
a line item in their budgets
for implementation of TRC
recommendations so as to
recognize the obligation to
facilitate implementation,
even if the resources allocated
are minimal.