Department of Education, Training and Information INDEPENDENT NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 20th Street Sinkor, Fiamah Monrovia, Tel: 0886553335 Email: [email protected]: www.inchrliberia.com

Press Release on Pre-Trial Detention Day (April 24, 2019) Liberia will on Thursday, April 25, 2019 join other countries on the Continent in the celebration of the 4th anniversary of Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day. The Day is commemorated annually to raise awareness of the plight of thousands of people held in pretrial detention in police cells and prisons across Africa for prolonged periods without trial. The INCHR and its partners will this year commemorate the Africa Pretrial Detention Day celebration under the National Theme “The Decriminalization of Petty Offences is the Panacea for the Reduction of Pretrial Detainees”. The indoor program will be held in the Chapel of the Monrovia Central Prison at 9 a.m.

On Africa Pretrial Detention Day 2019, the INCHR calls upon government to strengthen efforts to improve conditions of prisons and uphold both Constitutional and international Human rights guarantees for detainees.

Across Africa, approximately 43 percent of the total prison population is pretrial detainees. According to statistics from Liberia’s Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitations (BCR), in Liberia alone, at least 64.2 percent of detainees are still awaiting court trial.

Also in Liberia, the use of arbitrary pretrial detention and police custody are major contributing factors to prison overcrowding; resulting into serious human rights issues and health risk for detainees.

It can be recalled that the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights chose the 25th of April each year to celebrate Africa Pre-Trial Detention Day to coincide with the adoption of new Guidelines on Arrest, Police Custody and Pretrial Detention otherwise known as the “ Guidelines”. The new Guidelines provide a blueprint for States to strengthen national systems and practices in relation to arrest, police custody and pretrial detention. The Luanda Guidelines reinforces the importance of a criminal justice system built on core human rights principles. The guidelines also reflect the collective aspirations of states, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations in promoting a rights-based approach to this critical area of criminal justice. It is anticipated that at least 25 pre-trail detainees will be release d from the Monrovia Central prison especially those accused of petty offenses.

The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, relevant officials from the Justice Ministry, public defenders, trial judges and magistrates, the Liberia National Bar Association, relevant civil society institutions including the media, and other dignitaries have been invited to the program.

Sign: Janet Johnson Director Department for the Education, Training, and Information INCHR 0886-553335/0775205844