The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights news of The Supreme Court’s decision to hand down final ruling today to put an end to a legal battle that halted the preparations for the runoff election and the donation by the US based B. W. Harris Episcopal School Alumni Association to its alma mater.

DOMINANT STORIES

Rerun Or Runoff? Liberia Supreme Court Decides Today

The Supreme Court is expected today to put an end to a legal battle that halted the preparations for the runoff election. The ruling from the nation’s high court will either mean the country will go for a rerun or runoff, a decision Liberians eagerly await. Appearing before the high court last week, lawyers from the National Elections Commission (NEC), Liberty Party and Unity Party, each made a case for their clients. They cited relevant laws to defend their position but the outcome of their representations lies in the hand of the five justices on bench. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says, after all the legal drama, the Appeal Court is now looking in the case at bar as to whether or not there’s a merit to overturn the October 10 Presidential and Legislative Elections results or allow NEC to proceed with the runoff.

Related Captions: Today is D-Day-All Ears At The Supreme Court (The New Dawn), Run-off Or Re-run: Supreme Court Decides Today (Heritage)

B.W. Harris Alumni-USA Gives Back; Donates Several Educational Materials

The Bravid Washington Harris Episcopal School Alumni Association in the United States of America (BWHESAA-USA), has donated several technological and other educational materials to its alma mater. Speaking at ceremony marking the turnover of the educational materials to the school, the Liaison of the B.W. Harris Alumni-USA and Alumni Association-Liberia, Mr. Adolf VKP Sackey, said the gesture is one of the primary objectives for which the alumni was established. He disclosed that the donation of the materials came on the heel of a proposal by the Principal of the B.W. Harris School, Mr. Hilary Collins, to BWHESAA-USA’s National Chair Joanna Hawah Freeman Richards about the need to advance learning at institution (B.W. Harris School). The FrontPage Africa newspaper quotes Mr. Sackey as saying that the project, dubbed “Projector in every classroom,” was approved by members of the DC Metro Chapter during the tenure of its former President, Mr. Mona B. Diggs. 

Related Captions: B.W. Harris Alumni-USA Gives Back (The New Dawn), B.W. Harris Alumni-USA Gives Back…Donates Several Educational Materials (Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

Medica Liberia Calls For Collaboration In The Fight Against Sexual And Gender Based Violence

Medica Liberia, a local nongovernmental organization wants the media and religious community to join the fight in ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the educational sector of the country. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says Medica Liberia on Wednesday officially launched its 16 Days of Activism under the theme: ‘Let’s embrace our diversities for safe education and a violent free society”. According to the organization, the media and the religious Community play a key role in helping to end this inhumane act against women and girls in the Liberian society. The organization called on everyone to help fight against Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and GBV in the society mostly in schools, so as to make the society a better place for women and girls to live.

LCL Concludes Pre-Runoff Election Conflict Resolution, Peace Building Media Engagement

The Lutheran Church in Liberia Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Program (LCL-THRP) has concluded a day interactive Pre-runoff Election Conflict Resolution and peace building media engagement workshop in the country. The workshop, which was held in the Lutheran Church compound on 13th Street, Sinkor, brought together over 26 journalists from both the print and electronic media house in Liberia with support from the Church of Sweden. In a special remark, the Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Jensen Seyenkulo, Bishop of the LCL called on the media to take greater advantage of the pre-runoff Election Conflict Resolution and peace building engagement workshop given that the media is primarily responsible to drive the country’s agenda for sustainable peace worldwide and Liberia is no exception, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

 Red Cross Donates To Prisoners At Central Prison

The Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) has donated several assorted items to authorities of the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP). The items, which were given to the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR), included 100 mats, bath soap, 100 blankets, laundry soap, chlorine and gloves. Presenting the items to the MCP, LNRC’s Emergency Response officer Daniel K.D. Kossigbo said his organization received a communication from the Inspector General requesting for aid. He promised his organization’s fullest commitment to working with the BCR and the LNP, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

 MOH Holds 9th Annual Review Health Conference

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the Ministry of Health has kicked off its 9th annual review of the health sector here under the theme, “The Health Sector in Retrospect: Setting the Stage for Universal Health Coverage in Liberia.” The daily reads that the three-day conference, which brings together stakeholders in the health sector, including representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations, the United States Agency for International Development or USAIS, Superintendent Council, World Bank and World Health Organization, among others is expected to end on December 8, 2017.  Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Bernice T. Dahn, lauded partners, health professionals and all attendees for their efforts, noting that Liberia has been through multiple stages of emergency, recovery and time for sustainability.

Related Captions: 9^th Joint Annual Review Health Confab Opens In Monrovia (Heritage)

NMCP Launches 2016 Malaria Prevention Report

The Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) has launched the 2016 Malaria Indicator survey report with a glaring call to prevent the wide spread of malaria across the country. The 2016 Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey (LMIS) is the third Malaria Indicator Survey conducted in Liberia since 2009 as part of the DHS Program, and activates here in Liberia. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the LMIS was designed to provide estimates at the national level, for urban and rural areas, and for five regions and Monrovia specifically. The launching of the 2016 LMIS report which was held Tuesday, 5 December at the Ministry of Health in Congo Town, Tubman Boulevard brought together both media representatives from various media intuitions. The 2016 Liberia MIS provides populations-based estimates on malaria indicators including malaria prevention, case management, malaria, and anemia prevalence to inform strategic planning and program evaluation.

EU Donates Sporting Materials To Liberia's Amputee Football Team

The European Union Delegation to Liberia has donated 2 sets of sporting materials to the Amputee Football Association. Making the presentation, EU Charge d'affaires a.i Mrs. Emma Sundblad highlighted some of the collaboration between the European Union and Liberia and explained that the donation was a small practical contribution to help the association with their sporting activities. Referring to the recently concluded fifth African Union – European Union Summit, Mrs. Sundblad recalled the Summit's commitment to invest in youth, through support to inclusive education and vocational training and investment to ensure sustainable job creation. She underlined that this applied equally to those with disabilities and encouraged the team "to see themselves as role models as well as a source of hope and inspiration to other young people in similar situations".  According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the donation was done during a practice session of the team in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

Related Caption: EU Reaches Out Amputees (The New Dawn)

Liberia, Others, Celebrate International Human Rights Day

According to the INSIGHT newspaper, Liberia joins the world over on December 10 this year to celebrate International Human Rights Day. December 10 every year is celebrated in commemoration of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which came into existence in 1948. The day also marks the official closure of the 16 Days of Activism which began on November 25^th, the International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Violence against Women. This year’s celebration is under the global theme: “We are all equal in dignity and rights”. The INCHR with the statutory mandate to protect and promote human rights consistent with its Act of 2005, the constitution of the Republic of Liberia,  including the Paris principles of 1993, and related international treaties and conventions to which Liberia is a state party, has organized program befitting celebration of the day. The INCHR will on Monday 11^th December, alongside key partners, execute programs to commemorate the day in Liberia consistent with the Commission’s commitment to decentralize its activities. The program will take place in Tubmanburg, Bomi County under the national theme: “Advancing the rights and dignity of children and persons with disabilities”

INCHR Embarks On Human Rights Promotion Activities

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) recognizes that the provision of human rights education is cardinal to the protection and promotion of human rights in every society. Additionally, the INCHR is cognizant that a pool of trained personnel on human rights treaty reporting is important for the cultivation of a human rights friendly culture. Also, the culture of human rights will blossom further when human rights based approach is used in the development of national policies, programs and other activities. In addition, the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan and recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review needs to be taken seriously by all state and non-state actors responsible. These activities which will be carried out in the coming days will include human rights education and awareness campaign in Bong, Bassa, Bomi and Montserrado counties, a one day working session on treaty reporting with state institutions, one day technical working session to draft the revised Agenda for Transformation to mainstream the SDGs using Human Rights Based Approach, high level meeting with actors from the judiciary and a community based campaign to reduce invalid votes in subsequent elections, reports INSIGHT newspaper.