-In Liberia Drug Fight
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Angie Brooks International Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security (ABIC) has called for the application of due process, constitutional rights, and humane treatment for every person in police custody, emphasizing that no individual—whether a former Vice President or an ordinary citizen—should receive preferential or discriminatory treatment under the law.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Centre used the recent arrest and detention of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor as a pivotal reminder that Liberia’s justice system must operate on principles of fairness, transparency, and equality before the law. While acknowledging the Liberia National Police’s (LNP) decision to secure immediate medical care for the former Vice President when she fell ill, ABIC stressed that this action must not be misconstrued as a privilege reserved for the prominent.
“Medical care should never be regarded as a privilege reserved for prominent persons,” the statement read. “Every individual in police custody, regardless of political affiliation, social status, gender, nationality or the seriousness of the allegations, has the right to be treated humanely and to receive necessary medical attention.”
Citing Article 21 of the Constitution of Liberia, ABIC underscored the legal protections afforded to arrested individuals, including freedom from torture and inhumane treatment, and the mandatory requirement to be formally charged and brought before a court of competent jurisdiction within forty-eight hours. The Centre acknowledged that a genuine medical emergency may temporarily interrupt this timeline, but insisted that authorities must act transparently and in full compliance with the law.
Reinforcing the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence, the Centre reminded the public that an “arrest is not a conviction,” and that guilt must be established through admissible evidence in a court of law. The statement delineated the distinct roles within the justice system: police investigate and gather evidence, prosecutors present the state’s case, defense lawyers protect the rights of the accused, and it is the courts—not political actors, the media, or the public—that determine guilt or innocence.
“The police must never mete out punishment,” the statement warned, stressing that pre-trial detention must not become a form of humiliation, intimidation, or revenge. “Any punishment imposed following conviction is exclusively a matter for a court of competent jurisdiction acting in accordance with the law.”
Balancing the Fight Against Drugs with Human Rights
While supporting the government’s aggressive crackdown on the dangerous drug scourge threatening Liberia’s youth, families, and national security, ABIC cautioned against abandoning constitutional principles in the pursuit of justice. The Centre affirmed its support for the investigation and prosecution of all individuals involved in the drug trade, including financiers and facilitators.
“At the same time, our determination to eradicate drugs must not cause us to abandon the constitutional and human-rights principles that define a lawful society,” the statement noted.
ABIC has called upon the LNP and all security institutions to adopt the treatment afforded to former Vice President Howard-Taylor as the standard for every person in custody. This includes prompt medical care for those who fall ill, access to legal counsel, protection from abuse, and a timely court appearance as required by law.
“Liberia can vigorously confront drug trafficking while respecting human dignity, due process and the rule of law. Indeed, we must do both,” the Centre concluded. “Justice loses its legitimacy when it abandons humanity, and humanity must remain at the heart of justice.”
The statement was jointly signed by Cllr. Dr. Yvette Chesson-Gibson, Executive Director of ABIC, and Hon. Olubanke King Akerele, Chair of the Board of Directors and former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) is a leading institution dedicated to women’s empowerment, leadership development, international peace, and security. It is the initiator of the Women’s Situation Room and a founding member of The Lappa Revolution.
