The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights
1367 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
CONTACT: Abdelilah Kadili, Program Director, phone: (202) 463-7575 x 270, Cell: (703) 725-6368, akadili@rfkmemorial.org www.rfkmemorial.org
Max
Stamper, www.MaximsNews.com,
phone: (201) 848-6162, DrMaxStamper@MaximsNews.com
To: National, International and Assignment desks
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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K.K. in Liberia Food Programme.
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K.K. reading to Liberian children. |
K.K. with 5-year-old Liberian boy. |
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K.K., Abdelilah Kadili, and W.F.P. Administrator
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Todd Howland, Director of the Center for Human Rights in an interview with the Liberian media |
Kerry
Kennedy Briefs U.N. on the Volatile Situation in Liberia and the Serious
Risks for the Peace Process
“We
are very concerned about the peace process in Liberia,” said Kerry
Kennedy.
“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.”
“As
of today, Liberian people still lack access to education, drinkable
water, electricity and sanitation,” said Kennedy.
“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.”
“And
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 UNMIL mission is to be a
success.” Kennedy said.
“The
donor community and the U.S., as the primary donor, bear specific
responsibility.
“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.
“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.
“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,” she said.
“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,” she continued.
Kennedy and the RFK Center for Human Rights recently returned from a Journey for Justice Delegation to Liberia.
Kerry
Kennedy has led more than forty human rights delegations to more than
thirty countries over the course of two decades.
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.
“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,” she
continued.
“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,” she said.
Accompanying Kennedy on the mission to Liberia 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.
Also present at the U.N. today were 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 Kennedy’s book Speak Truth to Power.
Kerry Kennedy 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.
The
mission of the RFK Center for Human Rights is to support the
human rights work of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
Laureates and Social Justice Fellows.
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.
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.
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.
Today,
there are 34 RFK Laureates working in 20 countries.
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30 --
Note to Editors:
For PHOTOS of the Liberia Mission and the U.N. Press Conference: http://www.maximsnews.com/kerrykennedyunbriefingpressrelease14sept2004.htm
For
BIOGRAPHY of Kerry Kennedy: http://www.maximsnews.com/kerrykennedybio4sept2004.htm
For
BACKGROUND: http://www.maximsnews.com/rfkmemorialcenterforhumanri.htm
Contact:
-- Abdelilah Kadili, 202-463-7575 ext. 270, or 703-725-6368 (cell),
akadili@rfkmemorial.org
Web: http://www.rfkmemorial.org
-- Max Stamper of www.MaximsNews.com, 201-848-6162 DrMaxStamper@MaximsNews.com
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/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
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