Ethnographic research on post-war humanitarian intervention in Liberia has helped us to understand how international interventions especially in gender-based related violence and violation of human rights link debates on kinship, entitlement, private rights, and social responsibility. Liberian narratives, court cases, and efforts to change social norms and conduct about gender-based violence (GBV) in post-battle lifestyles are examined in this article, as well as the ongoing worldwide human rights discourse about GBV. Using a multi-faceted approach, our ethnography aims to show how the Liberian definition of "the GBV trouble," the goal of complicated GBV interventions, differs from the conception held by organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) tasked with imposing international mandates. We want to give readers a glimpse into the various discourses and power dialectics surrounding this issue.
The TRC's (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia) response to its mid-mandate of investigating and determining responsibility for "egregious" domestic crimes, "gross" human rights violations, and "extreme" humanitarian law violations, as well as analyzing the underlying causes of Liberia's numerous episodes of state breakdown and violent conflicts, to recommend measures to ensure that reality, justice, and reconciliation are ensured, is represented in this work. 186 years of false impressions, inequality, poverty, oppression, and lethal struggle with long-lasting standards of fact, justice, and reconciliation are the goal of this work.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 The Objective of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Structure of the Research
2. Literature Review
2.1 What are the rights that are protected by Human Rights?
2.2 International Human Rights, Fragmentation and Other Branches of Public International Law
3. Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Purpose of the Study
3.3 Research Questions
3.4 Data Collecting Sources
3.5 Limitations of the Study
4. Findings and Discussions
4.1 Liberia’s Problem with Gender-Based Violence
4.2 Anti-Rape Women’s Group
4.3 What the Feminist Movement Has Done to Police Officers?
4.4 Experiences of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Assault
4.5 Culture of Violence
4.6 Violations of Gender Equality When the Wars of Liberia Broke out
4.7 Gender-Based Violence in Different Forms
4.8 A Group of People Who Committed Acts of Violence Against Women
5. Discussion
5.1 International Crimes Committed During the Liberian Civil War
5.2 Has Liberia Acted Against Those Responsible for Human Rights Abuses
5.3 The Relationship Between Justice & Efforts to Heal a Social Fabric of Liberia
5.4 International Community Position on Judicial Accountability
5.5 Justice A Threat to Liberia’s stability?
5.6 Establishment of the TRC of Liberia and Delegation of Authority
5.7 Liberia’s Case Law
5.8 United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies of Liberia
5.9 Is Liberia a member party of other International Treaties and Organizations
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
6.1 Conclusion
6.2 Recommendations
6.3 Map of the Republic OF Liberia
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This thesis examines the scale and impact of human rights violations and gender-based violence during the Liberian Civil War (1989–2003). It seeks to address the challenges in implementing international human rights standards within the post-conflict Liberian context, focusing on institutional accountability, the role of women's movements, and the necessity of judicial reform to secure lasting peace and justice.
- Analysis of gender-based violence (GBV) patterns during the Liberian conflict.
- Evaluation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its role in judicial accountability.
- Assessment of the Liberian justice system and its intersection with public international law.
- Documentation of the role of women's advocacy and feminist movements in post-war Liberia.
- Challenges of enforcing international human rights amidst post-conflict reconstruction.
Excerpt from the Book
Liberia's Problem with Gender-Based Violence
Every side that participated in the Liberia bloody unrest used some level of violence and sexually exploited women. Today, gender-based violence is still prevalent in Liberia. Women have been raped on epic proportions, with the government doing little to prosecute perpetrators. Due to the availability of data and systems in Liberia, it is difficult to access the actual numbers of gender-based violence in Liberia. It has been reported that rape was the most reported crime in Liberia in 2018.
Instead, victims seek redress through family squabbles and customary courts. For a variety of reasons, informal methods of judgment are selected. Other citizens look at the judicial system as discriminatory and a dispenser of injustice. The criminal justice system is also viewed as corrupt by the public. People are discouraged from reporting GBV because of the unofficial fees charged by the police and courts. Survivors also bear the burden of lengthy trials and lost time at work.
Reporting is discouraged by the fear of retaliation, stigmatization, and false accusations (in the case of rape). Some rape victims' families and/or survivors accept money from the perpetrators in exchange for protecting lawsuits outside of the courts and police stations. Because of the country's extreme poverty, this is a common occurrence. These factors also play a role in the case being dropped by the police once it has been reported. Public perceptions of GBV, despite some progress, remain largely negative. Domestic violence is justified in the eyes of a sizable majority of men and women. Victims of rape are often singled out for placing the blame.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Outlines the research purpose, the specific problem of human rights abuses in Liberia, and the structure of the dissertation.
Literature Review: Discusses theoretical foundations of human rights and their application within public international law frameworks.
Methodology: Details the qualitative research approach, data collection sources (including TRC reports), and study limitations.
Findings and Discussions: Investigates the prevalence of sexual violence, the status of anti-rape women's groups, and the cultural normalization of violence.
Discussion: Examines the role of international crimes, judicial accountability, and the TRC's recommendations in healing Liberia’s social fabric.
Conclusion and Recommendations: Synthesizes findings on human rights in post-conflict Liberia and proposes actionable steps to address impunity through judicial reform.
Keywords
Gender-Based Violence, International Human Rights, Post-Conflict, Liberia, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Sexual Assault, Judicial Accountability, War Crimes, Public International Law, Women’s Rights, Impunity, Civil War, Peacebuilding, Human Dignity, Social Justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This thesis examines the assessment of international human rights violations and the prevalence of gender-based violence during the Liberian Civil War (1989–2003).
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The core themes include the systemic nature of gender-based violence, the role of political and traditional power structures, the effectiveness of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the pursuit of judicial accountability.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The primary objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the scale of abuses during the war and to suggest practical and legal solutions for improving women's protection in Liberia.
What methodology is utilized?
The study employs a qualitative research methodology, relying on secondary source analysis, including truth commission reports, US State Department documentation, and academic journals.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the transition from wartime violence to existing societal issues, reviews the performance of women’s advocacy groups, and evaluates the challenges in domestic judicial procedures regarding war crimes.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Gender-Based Violence, International Human Rights, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, TRC, and judicial accountability.
How have socio-cultural attitudes in Liberia impacted the reporting of sexual violence?
Cultural norms and social stigmas often lead to the "victim-blaming" of rape survivors. Furthermore, corruption within the criminal justice system and the use of customary courts often discourage formal reporting of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
What role did specific military groups play in the perpetration of human rights violations?
Various factions, including NPFL, ULIMO, and government-backed units like the Anti-Terrorism Unit (LURD), were identified as involved in acts of rape, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers, which significantly contributed to the country's humanitarian crisis.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Brutus Jentzen Hunder (Autor:in), 2022, An Assessment of international Human Rights Violations and Gender Based Violence Committed During the Liberian Civil War, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1254855
