AFELL URGED to ADVOCATE BEYOND MONROVIA…As New Leadership gets inducted
By: Judicial Correspondent
Liberia-): Legal representation for women and children across the different court rooms in Liberia remains cardinal for attainment of access to Justice.
This can only be achieved where a group of legal expert especially women can do it.
The call for legal representation beyond Monrovia was called out recently during the induction of officers elect of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia.
The presence of AFELL According to stakeholders at the induction has not felt in leeward counties relative to legal representation of women, girls and the elderly regarding issues of sexual gender based violence and other related cases.
AFELL held it’s Elections few months ago in order to have new leaders to steer the affairs of the association for the next few years.
Those elected and installed were Atty Philomena Tugbe Williams president, Atty Bouwolu Taylor Kelley as first vice president, Atty Deddeh Kpawor Zaza as second vice president. Others are Atty Yeahnee King Allen Secretary, Cllr Isabel B Diggs Treasurer and Cllr Margaret M. Nigba as Chaplain respectively.
The induction of AFELL’s new leaders comes amid huge number of reported SGBV cases in the country and huge complaint of lack of legal representation.
Committing her leadership to the cause of advocacy and legal representation, AFELL’s President Atty. Philomena Tugbe Williams, underscored that her administration will ensure stronger ties with partners to ensure women and girls are protected in the country.
Atty. Williams mentioned that sexual and gender based violence if not ease will be eliminated across the country from girls and woman. โSchool have been use as the hustlers ground for sexual exploitation, girls have been use for grades by their teachers in schools across the country, this is totally unfair .โAFELL president Atty, Philomena Tugbe Williams said.
Also speaking, His Honor Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Francis Korkpor said there are many female issues in the country that can only be addressed if there is a structure institution to speak on that.
He pledged the High Court’s of Liberia fullest support in working with the new leadership of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia across the country.
Meanwhile Carter Center Country Representative James Dorbor Jallah called on the Government of Liberia to wage War on all forms of impunity and corruption in Liberia. To do this, Jallah recommended that the government of Liberia should ensure proper administration of the justice system.
Jallah said when this is done will narrow the gap of difficulties in the justice system.
He reminded members AFELL of the many challenges confronting the country, ranging from pre trial detainees, access to justice, among others.
The Carter Center boss encouraged female lawyers to continue the fight against vices in Liberian society and world at large. Jallah further indicated the government needs to make deliberate efforts to increase stakeholders understanding of the justice system.
“As you take up these positions, I would like to remind you of the many challenges confronting our justice system one of which is that, many pre trail detainees are languishing in jail far beyond the statutory period without trial; they are yarning for freedom and civil liberty,” Jallah added.
The Carter Center Country Representative also recommended that the government of Liberia should strengthen the link between the customary and formal justice system.
AFELL was established in 1995 to advocate through legal aid and or representation which will ensure mediation as a first option of giving relief to parties and reducing the case load on the courts dockets.
