By Benjamin Q. Z. Johnson
Monrovia-The National President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Prof. Cllr. F. Juah Lawson, will today, Wednesday, address a high-level international law event in New York, United States, where global leaders and legal experts will discuss strengthening accountability for international crimes committed against children.
Cllr. Lawson will serve as an invited speaker at the event, titled “Advancing Accountability for International Crimes Against Children,” during International Law Week 2026.
The event, hosted by the African Union (AU), brings together government representatives, international organizations, legal practitioners, and child rights advocates to explore strategies for improving access to justice for children affected by armed conflict and other serious international crimes.
A statement said her participation highlights the LNBA’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law, advancing human rights, and ensuring that Liberia’s experiences with civil conflict contribute to broader international efforts to protect vulnerable populations and combat impunity.
The discussions are expected to examine national, regional, and international legal frameworks, emerging approaches to child-sensitive accountability, and measures to ensure that children who suffer serious violations during armed conflicts receive meaningful access to justice.
The forum will also spotlight the African Union’s leadership in protecting children affected by armed conflict, including the role of its newly appointed Special Envoy on Children and Armed Conflict.
Participants will further examine how negotiations toward a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention could strengthen international legal protections and accountability mechanisms for children.
During her presentation, Cllr. Lawson is expected to share the LNBA’s perspectives on international legal standards, Liberia’s national legal framework, and the importance of survivor-centered and child-sensitive justice mechanisms.
Drawing on Liberia’s fourteen-year civil conflict, during which children suffered grave abuses, including forced recruitment and exploitation by armed groups, the LNBA President will emphasize the urgent need to strengthen accountability systems and ensure that perpetrators of serious international crimes are brought to justice.
Her contribution is expected to reinforce the importance of treating children not merely as witnesses to conflict but as victims whose experiences require appropriate legal recognition, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
“Liberia’s history reminds us that children are among the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict. Their suffering must never be overlooked, and justice must extend beyond recognition of their experiences to meaningful accountability, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” Cllr. Lawson stated ahead of the event.
She emphasized that effective protection of children requires strong national legislation, functional judicial institutions, international cooperation, and sustained political commitment.
“Our participation provides an important opportunity to share Liberia’s experiences, contribute to the development of international legal standards, and reinforce the urgent need for accountability mechanisms that recognize and address the distinct harms suffered by children during armed conflicts,” she added.
A central issue expected to feature in Cllr. Lawson’s presentation is the LNBA’s longstanding advocacy for the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The proposed court is viewed by the Association as a critical step toward addressing impunity for atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil conflicts, promoting accountability, and providing a pathway to justice for victims and survivors, including children who experienced serious violations.
The LNBA President will have an opportunity to connect Liberia’s domestic transitional justice agenda with wider global discussions about accountability for international crimes and the protection of vulnerable victims.
The Association maintains that meaningful justice requires more than acknowledging the suffering of victims. It also requires credible accountability mechanisms, stronger judicial institutions, and sustained efforts to uphold the rule of law.
Cllr. Lawson is expected to reaffirm the LNBA’s commitment to advocating for the establishment of the proposed court, strengthening Liberia’s justice system, and promoting legal reforms consistent with the country’s international human rights obligations.
Her participation will also provide an opportunity to discuss the potential contribution of a future Crimes Against Humanity Convention to strengthening international justice and addressing gaps in the protection of children affected by armed conflict.
Cllr. Lawson has expressed appreciation to the organizers for inviting the LNBA to participate in the international dialogue, describing the engagement as an important opportunity for Liberia’s legal community to contribute to discussions on accountability and the protection of children.
The LNBA views its participation in International Law Week 2026 as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with regional and international partners, exchange experiences on transitional justice, and promote practical approaches to ensuring that children affected by armed conflict are not denied justice.
The engagement also places Liberia’s post-conflict justice priorities within a broader international conversation about the responsibilities of states and judicial institutions to protect children, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent future violations.
As international stakeholders consider stronger legal responses to crimes against children, Liberia’s experience offers an important perspective on the long-term consequences of armed conflict and the need for credible justice mechanisms.
The LNBA says it remains committed to protecting human rights, strengthening the administration of justice, promoting accountability, and ensuring that the rule of law serves all persons, particularly vulnerable groups whose rights and dignity require special protection.
Cllr. Lawson’s participation is therefore expected to advance the Association’s engagement with the international legal community while reinforcing its call for stronger accountability, meaningful justice for victims, and continued progress toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia.
The Liberian National Bar Association is the national professional association of lawyers in Liberia. It is committed to promoting the rule of law, safeguarding the independence and integrity of the legal profession, advancing access to justice, protecting human rights, and supporting legal and judicial reforms in Liberia.
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