In couple of years there has been a great deal of activity by a number of international and local organizations with the objective of establishing a solid democracy, based on human rights in Liberia. Continuing this effort, a Liberian NGO, Children Assistance Rescue Mission (CARM) in collaboration with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Human Rights Protection Section, held a one day training of 50 high school students from 10 schools which also include teachers of Montserrado County to educate them on theirs and the rights of fellow Liberians.
The workshop aimed to establish human rights clubs at these schools in an effort to entrench the Doctrine of Human Rights in the minds of young Liberians. Among Liberia’s very serious human rights problems are ritualistic killings, police abuse, incidents of so-called “trial by ordeal,” arbitrary arrests, the denial of due process, violence against women, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking, mob violence, and child labor.
Speaking to the Daily Observer after the workshop, The Executive Director of CARM Rev. Jarvis Bestman said, “The NGO will conduct the same workshop at schools across Liberia. This is an initiative to educate the youth to know more about human rights and their responsibility to society.”
The CEO of Women Against Female Genital Mutilation (WAFGM), Maima D. Robinson said, “It is necessary that the young generation should be informed about the laws that protect people in the society. Robinson motivated students to stand up for the truth and help in spreading awareness on human rights in Liberia.”
Other speakers and participants at the event included representatives from UNMIL and the Ministries of Gender and Labor. Participating schools included SDA, St. Simon Baptist, St. Samuel, Angel Net, Bishop Marwieh Institute, Ocean View Christian Academy, Rock International Christian Academy, Tubman High, Richard N. Nixon, and G.W. Gibson.
Rev. Bestman called on UNMIL, foreign embassies and international NGOs to assist his organization with resources to help extend the workshop to more schools.