In what participants described as a “defining moment” for human rights in Liberia, the Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT-Liberia) and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty officially launched the Death Penalty Abolition Project this week, with robust support from the European Union (EU) and Liberian authorities.
Held in Monrovia, the landmark launch event gathered lawmakers, government officials, international partners, and civil society advocates to kick off a broad campaign aimed at ending capital punishment in Liberia once and for all.
The initiative, funded through the EU’s Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA), forms part of the wider Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition.
During the launch, organizers outlined a multi-pronged advocacy effort that will engage newly elected lawmakers, community leaders, youth, women’s groups, and traditional elders across nine legislative districts through public education and structured dialogue. The goal: shape informed opinion and legislative decisions as Liberia prepares to table, debate, and—advocates hope—pass an abolition bill in the House of Representatives.
The event’s chief launcher, EU Ambassador and Delegation Head Nona Deprez, reiterated the European Union’s stance against the death penalty, calling it a violation of human dignity and international law.
“There is no credible evidence that it deters crime. Its discriminatory application makes it morally indefensible,” Ambassador Deprez stated, urging Liberia to seize this “historic opportunity” and pass the abolition bill before its next United Nations human rights review in August 2025.
Ambassador Deprez also linked progress on abolition to Liberia’s broader international aspirations, including its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. “Progress on human rights enhances Liberia’s credibility on the international stage,” she noted.
Liberian officials echoed the call for reform. Deputy National Defense Minister Augustine T. Larmin described the death penalty as outdated, ineffective, and a burden on the justice system. “It must be abolished,” Larmin said, arguing for a justice system focused on restoration, not retribution. “Our support goes beyond words—it is institutional and resolute.”
Justice Ministry representative Kutaka Devine Togbah confirmed that a comprehensive consultative process had produced a revised abolition bill, now awaiting executive review. “Let us not delay justice,” Togbah said, urging swift legislative action. He praised civil society groups for their tireless advocacy, which has kept the issue prominent on the national agenda.
The event featured stirring testimonies from human rights defenders, survivors of injustice, and legal experts, all rallying around the theme of justice that “restores rather than punishes.” ACAT-Liberia declared, “This project represents more than a policy shift—it is a moral evolution for Liberia.”
A representative from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty highlighted Liberia’s obligations under international treaties and the need for domestic implementation. “Liberia has a duty to uphold the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it ratified. Implementation is long overdue,” the coalition noted.
The EU-backed project will now roll out an intensive campaign of legislative engagement, public debate, and awareness-building—efforts intended to help Liberia join the growing number of African nations abolishing the death penalty and redefine its place in regional and global human rights leadership.
