The following is the keynote address given by Liberian Minister of Labor Samuel Kofi Woods at the Center for Victims of Torture Joint International Capacity Building and New Tactics in Human Rights Workshop in Monrovia, Liberia on February 19, 2007.

 

The Lord Mayoress, Mrs. Ophelia Hoff Saytumah, Mr. Cecil Griffiths, Atty Jerome Verdier, Chairman of the TRC , UNMIL Representative, Members of CVT Delegation and International Guests , Members of the Press Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Human Rights, Civil Society and Labour Unions:

Your invitation to deliver the key note address on this occasion imposes upon a deep sense of humility. It confers honor on a human rights advocate who continue to wrestle with his physical and psychological transition to Government. Many times I am challenged to state my case and choose a side: whether a human rights advocate or a government official. Too often this question is deeply embedded in the limitations of our society and it presents itself in many ways. But more and more I am convinced that the government official should indeed be a human right advocate or at least must have a human rights conviction to make good governance possible.

Hence, I have no regrets by taking advocacy to government where I cannot only speak but act and influence policy. Probably this invitation demonstrates that I have not gone astray and I have not disappointed the human rights community which is my natural constituency. History has shown that many human rights advocates have been the worse abusers when tested with power and authority.

Today, I have been invited to join you in the hosting a workshop on the International Joint New Tactics in Human Rights and International Capacity Building Workshop with the objectives of providing training on new tactics in Liberia within the context of our own setting and also providing opportunity to learn about new tactics strategic and tactical thinking as it reflects on human rights.

Over the years of my journey with the human rights movement and during various transitions in exile, I had the distinct privilege to interact with some members and the leadership of CVT and have come to know and learn about their capacity and skills in the area of trauma healing and psychological counseling. CVT’s role in Sierra Leone and Liberia as well as and the United States is well known. This initiative under the New Tactics in human rights is a ground breaking endeavor in exploring new frontiers in our response to the promotion and protection of human rights. This project promotes tactical innovation and strategic thinking within the international human rights community. I am told that this project grew out of CVT’s long standing experience and unique position of healing and reclaiming civic leadership.

My dear friends and fellow human rights leaders, the world has evolved overtime. The world has evolved from the tragic effect of slavery, the chilling effect of colonialism and neo-colonialism, the cold-war polarization of global politics to the post-cold war legacy of internal civil conflict. Now the good and evil have characterized the world as we attempt to address the scourging effect of what is referred to as global terrorism. The approaches, the methods, and the arrogance of power displayed in the process of dealing with this menace presents a new dilemma for the international community. The world has also advanced in considering the protection and promotion of human rights. It has evolved from standard setting through the declaration of human rights and many other conventions, considered the effects of humanitarian laws and laws of war. Each era has challenged the human rights community to respond in different ways. Hence, the challenge of continuously thinking through tactics and strategies has become overwhelming. The needs for new tactics have become even more relevant.

I have also said that evil minds seek to manipulate the world and impose their own values on our world. As this process persists, good people must also discover ways of making the world safe and dignified. This workshop should be another attempt to reflect on how we can continuously make the world safe and dignified.

The world has seen the development of the human rights in different ways. I have spoken about standard-setting. The world has seen some degree of enforcement. In some cases there has been a disappointing lack of political will, inertia and indifference by the international community. Our faith has indeed been tested as human rights advocates. But we have seen the development and the ratification of the international criminal court, we’ve seen the development of the Rwanda Tribunal, and we’ve seen the development of the Special Court in Sierra Leone. Attempts, however, belated and limited they may be are efforts intended to provide the minimum protection and deterrent mechanism for accountability and end to impunity. These are not the only answers to the problem we seek but this is the beginning of the important step forward when government and tyrants could be held accountable for their actions. When the pervasive environment of impunity can be reduced and abolished. It is within this framework, that Liberia seen the end of day to the likes Hussein Habre (Chad), the likes of Charles Taylor (Liberia), the likes of Gus Kouvenhoven and many who have use the cover of war and tyranny to abuse innocent people, wreck nations and exploit our youths and women.

Your workshop is convening in Liberia, but Liberia exists and is situated in a region uprooted and dislocated by devastating civil conflicts. This region is referred to as the Mano River Basin known to comprise of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Two of these countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone) are what we refer to as Societies in Transition while our neighboring Guinea, is teetering on the brink of devastating internal crisis. What this demonstrates is that we exist in a region experiencing the horrors of bad governance, tyranny and pains. Liberia and Sierra Leone suffers from the legacy of devastating civil conflict which have left in its trails victims of various kinds. A traumatized and poverty-stricken population, people broken in their faith and confidence in government, criminalized and decadent institutions of government, victims of rape, torture and various forms of inhumane and degrading treatment, massive internal and external dislocation of populations. Each of these countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone) is attempting to respond to the needs of its citizens. Attempts to these responses have been found the repatriation and resettlement of broken communities through structures like the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC). We’ve also seen the development of structures to address issues of disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants; structures to end impunity and push for greater accountability by accelerating the establishment of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and now discussions around the promotion and protection of human rights through the establishment of a human rights commission in Liberia. More importantly, the desire to embark on comprehensive legal reforms that will guarantee redress of victims of torture and victims of massive human right abuses.

 

These mechanisms and attempts to institute a policy framework are serious attempts to begin to reflect on the pains and agony suffered by victims of tortures perpetrated by individuals in society and outside of society. It is important in the reflection of these issues that we consider not only the internal variables and internal actors but even external actors, actors who have influenced with politics, economics and the social growth and development of our societies. Actors who by their very actions have manufactured weapons not manufactured in our own countries but weapons that have been used to abuse our citizens. Serious consideration must be given to these very important actors.

Unfortunately, because in some cases, of the role and approaches to the peaceful resolution of our conflict, several compromises have been reached. In our attempt to negotiate power for arms, we embarked on a course that appears reckless and immature in the resolution of conflict. In most cases, victims have been silent and their voices have been unheard in an attempt to find solutions to problems in war torn countries like Liberia. This has contributed more and more to the difficult process of securing peace, obtaining justice and sustaining stability in our own environment. Like Sierra Leone and Liberia, and now Guinea, we need to find new ways in addressing these problems. This workshop, must attempt to respond to contemporary challenges like these.

My dear participants, we need a radical transformation of our societies. We need a revolution of the mind and values. We need a new paradigm shift which must dictate that we provide more books and educational materials in the hands of our children rather than arms and violence. We need a paradigm shift that will discourage the world from building more armories, creating the means for warfare and creating a psychological environment for insecurity towards a society where we will have no arms, where military might will not be needed as a way of settling disputes and resolving conflict. We need an environment where there will be greater love than hate and anger. We must respond to the mental anguish we all suffered. It is so pervasive that we must collectively treat it with urgency. The programs of government and our desire for peace could be reversed if a re-ordering of our values is delayed. If we fail to reflect on our personal community and group relationships and fail to redefine them. If we fail to reflect on economic and social inequalities that exist in our society and we fail to re-conceptualize development, peace and justice
I therefore urge the following:

1. A reflection the human rights communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone; countries I referred to as societies in transition. We cannot be content with temporary peace and adhoc peace the human rights communities and civil societies must begin to rethink their strategies on advocacy, building cohesive and articulate platform for action. We cannot be complacent with the evolution of a new status quo which promises us political stability and democratic governance. We must continue to advocate and articulate our agenda for greater inclusion of human rights on the agenda of government. We must struggle very hard to deal with the trauma of our transition. And when I talk about trauma. There seem to be a loose perception that it is only those in poverty that are traumatized. Even those of us as leaders who fled into exile and have returned. Many of us who are referred to as leaders of our society have a degree of trauma as a result of the nature of the civil war and the extent to which it has devastated our society and communities.

2. Civil Society must also seek to get involve in budgetary analysis which will help to redefine the distribution of wealth and power in our society. And I think on the second note, the question of economic and social justice must become high on the agenda of civil society and the human rights movements. As we transit from a devastating civil war to a society of stability and respect for human rights the need for these reflections are even more crucial in sustaining peace and stability. We must not be passive and complacent during this new political order which offers us everything that is desired in the society. We must insist that change must come and will come when all of us help to reverse the experiences of the past, address those experiences and deal with the question of impunity.

3. The whole issue of redress for grievances and how we reinforce the greater constituency and forum for respect for the rule of law. Our security and police apparatus, our court system, and our prisons must be rehabilitated., redefined, reshaped, and restructured to become sensitive to respect not only for the rule of law but also respect for human rights and human dignity.

4. Greater reflection on transitional justice mechanisms: the question of restorative justice, distributive justice, etributive justice and the entire policy framework which are intended to address these issues. We must insist on the reflection, re-conceptualization and how we approach them but also stimulate dialogue and debates intended to insist that all Liberians get involved at all levels of our society in these processes as a way of moving our country forward.. This will include new strategies and tactics in aggressively tackling the issue of rape in our society.

5. Traditional approaches and mechanisms for healing and reconciliation: The inclusion of what has been defined as modern methods and approaches has to some extent affected the growth and traditional approaches. We must revisit traditional methods, strengthen and consolidate them. This is critical in advancing our agenda for national reconciliation.

My dear friends, changing the world, redirecting and redefining the values of our world is difficult but can be overcome. Those of us who continue to insist in a very optimistic way that it has always been possible and it will always be possible to bring tyrants to justice have able to live to see that day. It means in my mind the necessity of this agenda for new tactics is crucial because we can do our best and we will win this battle. This is why the international cross fertilization of ideas today at this workshop will be crucial.

The exchange of views and ideas, the critical reflection of where we’ve come from and the importance of sharing experience from Sierra Leone and Liberia and many other countries that have experienced challenges would be important for how we can together collectively influence the international collectivity agenda for where we want to go. One of the things that I always said is that conviction once tested can convert. You can’t be a boxer, cannot be challenged and still refer to yourself as a champion. Somehow, some way, I have always been touched and influenced by those values I hold so dearly. Those of us whose values and convictions have been challenged, and tested have indeed won souls and people to follow what we believe. I have also said that there is a universal context between good and evil. Good will always triumph over evil. But good cannot triumph by retreating from evil. Good must confront evil. By confronting evil, we offer society moral alternatives. By confronting evil we are able to convert people to our conviction. I want to wish you well in this workshop and I hope you have a pleasant time in Liberia. Much has changed in Liberia and has made it possible for all of us to be here. And I want to say that it is the blood and sweat and tears of civil society, the people of Liberia, and the human rights movements that we have come this far. And I am sure that this movement will continue to persevere and endure.

I Thank You!