Copyright 2004, by MaximsNews.com

          Kerry Kennedy, founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights (see Bio.); Samuel Kofi Woods, a Liberian lawyer and human rights activist who was portrayed in Kennedy’s book, Speak Truth to Power; Todd Howland, (see Bio.) director of the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights and Abdelilah Kadili, (see Bio.)  program director of the Center's Peace Building and Rule of Law. 

Also present at the U.N. were Professor Fariborz Fatemi, and Professor Katherine S. Broderick Dean of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law,  both active members of the Center’s Liberia Support Group.           

United Nations Interview with Kerry Kennedy on the Situation in Liberia

          UNITED NATIONS, November 2004 / www.MaximsNews.com /  -- Kerry Kennedy, founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, recently returned from a Journey for Justice Delegation to Liberia.  

Following her meetings at the United Nations on the critical situation she gave the following interview with MaximsNews Publisher, Dr. Max Stamper, about the peace process and the reconstruction of the war torn African country:      

Max Stamper:  Kerry, why have you and your colleagues come to the United Nations?

Kerry Kennedy: “We are very concerned about the peace process in Liberia.”   

“While the U.N., supported by the international community, has done a tremendous job stopping the violence; so far it has failed in its work with the Liberian people to create the conditions for a lasting peace.”   

Max:  What is actually happening now in Liberia?

Kerry: “As of today, Liberian people still lack access to education, drinkable water, electricity and sanitation.”

Max:  How does this relate to the United Nations? Are the efforts of governments beginning to work?

Kerry:  “The Transitional Government and the international community have the collective obligation for the progressive realization of these basic human rights.”

“Both the Liberian Transitional Government and the international community have so far failed to use available financial resources to meet these obligations.”

Max: How does this relate to real people?

Kerry: “Liberian civil society organizations and ordinary citizens must be empowered to take full ownership of the process, contribute to its success, and to the re-construction of the country, if the United Nations’ UNMIL mission is to be a success.”

Max:  Whose responsibility is all this?

Kerry: “The donor community and the U.S., as the primary donor, bear specific responsibility. 

Max:  What do you recommend?

Kerry: “The RFK Center recommends that funds be reallocated in such a way that the Liberian people are real participants, and where Liberians become involved in advocacy for their rights and where the government has the capacity to respond to those rights. 

Max:  What does that mean?

Kerry:  “Grassroots Liberians need to be empowered to take ownership of the process and contribute to the reconstruction of the country.  The international community must begin to structure its intervention around the rights of the Liberian people.”

Max:  What about the natural resources of the country?

Kerry:  “The U.N. must not only disarm the combatants, but ensure that revenues from natural resources presently extracted by members of warring factions and forces of the former government go into state coffers, otherwise those warring factions will simply purchase more arms if the elections do not go their way.”   

Max:  Do you think that the scheduled elections will be democratic?

Kerry:  “Disarmament and demobilization are the only focus.  We must also create an environment for a free and fair election -- the chain between the militia and their leaders must be broken.”

Max:  How do the other members of the RFK mission to Liberia feel about the situation? 

Kerry:  “All members of the Delegation expressed concern about the fragility and precarious state of Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) program and concerns about the implementation of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the way in which donor funds are flowing and being spent in Liberia.

“DDRR is considered a major component of the peace process formalized by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed by the warring factions in Accra, Ghana in August 2003 and mandated by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1509.”  

Max:  What else did the Delegation recommend?”

Kerry: “Rehabilitation and reintegration are crucial.  The odds of success are diminishing and partnerships with local NGOs must be developed if the ongoing process is to succeed.    

“UNMIL and members states, especially the U.S. government should make sure their funds are spent in ways that are transparent and beneficial to the people.”

Max:  Who else was on the Delegation to Liberia?

Kerry:  Also on the mission were Todd Howland, director of the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights and Abdelilah Kadili, program director of the Center's Peace Building and Rule of Law. 

Max:  Who are some of the other key players with the RFK Center’s Liberia work?

Kerry:  “Professor Fariborz Fatemi, Professor Katherine S. Broderick, Dean of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, both active members of the Center’s Liberia Support Group and Samuel Kofi Woods, a Liberian lawyer and human rights activist who was portrayed in my book, Speak Truth to Power.     

Max:  Please tell us more about the Center?

Kerry:  “We established the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights in 1987 to ensure the protection of rights codified under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

“Its mission is to support the human rights work of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Laureates and Social Justice Fellows. 

Max:  What type of human rights?

Kerry:  The Center implements Robert F. Kennedy’s vision of social justice by promoting respect for full spectrum of human rights, both in the United States and throughout the world.  The Center has consultative status with the United Nations.

Max:  Who are the human rights Laureates?

Kerry:  The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was established in 1984 to honor creative individuals who are, often at great personal risk, engaged in strategic and nonviolent efforts to overcome serious human rights violations.  They are often the “Martin Luther Kings of their country.”  Today, there are 34 RFK Laureates working in 20 countries.”

Max: Who is the Laureate of Liberia?

Kerry:  Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis of Liberia received the Robert F. Kennedy 1999 Human Rights Award for his persistent work for peace and security as a prerequisite for free, fair and democratic elections in the country. 

Max:  Thank you Kerry for this interview and for all of the important work of you and your colleagues.

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Publisher’s Note:  Kerry Kennedy has led more than forty human rights delegations to more than thirty countries over the course of two decades.  

Kerry established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights in 1987 to ensure the protection of rights codified under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

She has worked on diverse issues such as child labor, disappearances, indigenous land rights, judicial independence, freedom of expression, ethnic violence, the environment, and women's rights.

Her book, Speak Truth to Power, spawned a play by Broadway playwright Ariel Dorfman, a photo exhibit by Pulitzer Prize winner Eddie Adams, an award-winning website, an education packet, a series of Public Service Announcements and a documentary broadcast on PBS.  

Kerry serves as Chair of the Amnesty International Leadership Council and serves on boards or advisory committees of Human Rights First, The Bloody Sunday Trust, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, the Gleitsman Foundation, The China Information Center, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland), and the International Campaign for Tibet, among others.