Liberia: Information on the Liberian Initiative for the Promotion of Rights, Identity and Equality (LIPRIDE) and the Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), including objectives; treatment of members by society and authorities (2014-January 2017) [LBR105721.E]

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

A December 2015 article in the New Dawn Liberia, a Liberian newspaper, reported that LIPRIDE is a "coalition of rights based groups" that was founded in March 2012 and

serves as a platform to support effective and meaningful participation of key affected population[s] in the coalition['s] action points, financial gaps, policy, programmatic dialogues, and other activities, with a focus on social transformation as it relates to diversities, acceptance and tolerance of all marginalized groups. (22 Dec. 2015)

A May 2015 article in the NEWS, a Liberian newspaper, similarly describes LIPRIDE as a coalition of CSOs [Civil Society Organisations] and NGOs "mainstreaming thematic issues of human rights to discriminated minority and groups exposed to vulnerabilities" (13 May 2015).

According to LIPRIDE's October 2015 Shadow Report on Liberia, written with "technical assistance" from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the LIPRIDE coalition is comprised of: Action Aid Liberia, Stop AIDs in Liberia (SAIL), Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), Association of Liberian People Living with HIV and AIDS (ALL+), National Association of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (NATPAH), Lesbian and Gay Association Liberia (LEGAL), Liberian National Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (LIBNEP+), United Sisters, Leadership Institute for Women (LIW), Anti-AIDS Media Network, Youth and Adolescents Living with HIV and AIDS (YAL+), Domafeign "The Future," and Independent Human Rights Investigators (IHR) (LIPRIDE Oct. 2015). The New Dawn Liberia's December 2015 article states that the coalition Members are:

Action Aid Liberia (AAL), Stop AIDs In Liberia (SAIL[)], Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), DOMAFEIGN (the future), National Association of Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (NATPAH), Association of Liberian People Living with HIV and AIDS (ALL+), Liberian National Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (LIBNEP+), United Sisters, Leadership Institute for Women (LIW), Youth and Adolescents Living with HIV and AIDS (YAL+), Pacific Institute of Research and Evaluation (PIRE), University of Liberia and Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL). (The New Dawn Liberia 22 Dec. 2015)

The NEWS May 2015 article reports that LIPRIDE

call[ed] on the government of Liberia to respect and uphold the values and attributes of human rights.…[T]he group said it stands ready to actively engage and dialogue with the government in order for it to take concrete actions in upholding human rights. (The NEWS 13 May 2015)

A 27 October 2016 "Daily Media Summary" posted on the Liberian Bureau of Public Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, indicates that the "Anti-AIDS Media Network (AAMIN) with support from the American World Jewish Service (AJWS) through…LIPRIDE," began a two-day consultation "with media and civil society organizations" (Liberia 27 Oct. 2016). The same source cites the In Profile Daily, a Liberian newspaper, as stating that the consultation "aim[ed] at promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), issues that tend to reduce violence against key populations in Liberia" (ibid.). Further and corroborating information on the coalition and its members, including activities, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources include LIWEN in lists of members of the LIPRIDE coalition (LIPRIDE Oct. 2015; The New Dawn Liberia 22 Dec. 2015). The LIWEN website states that LIWEN is "the only network of women, girls and children affected by HIV and AIDS in Liberia" and their network, formed in 2006, "[c]urrently [has] over 6,000 women" registered as members (LIWEN n.d.a). According to their site, the network operates in "Maryland, Grandkru, and Rivergee counties," located in the South Eastern region of Liberia (LIWEN n.d.b).

The same source further states that their activities include advocating for "universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services;" "gender equality;" "human rights;" "universal access to sexual and reproductive health care;" "youth participation and leadership;" and "maternal health," adding that "making motherhood safer is…at the core of the [LIWEN] mandate" (LIWEN n.d.a). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on the treatment of LIPRIDE and LIWEN members, by society or state authorities, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to a 2014 report by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)[1], "[i]n the absence of a protective legal or policy framework, [human rights defenders (HRDs)] are vulnerable and frequently subject to arbitrary arrest and detention, lengthy imprisonment and even torture" (ISHR Sept. 2014). A December 2014 report entitled The Rights of LGBTI People in Liberia, by Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, states that

[t]here are a few organisations working for LGBTI rights in Liberia. Main challenges for the movement are legal and security issues, discrimination in the community and health institutions, and increasing hate crimes. The lack of legal framework for protection of basic human rights creates problems, including issues of blackmail. (Sweden Dec. 2014, 3)

The 2015 LIPRIDE Shadow Report similarly states that "[v]ery few civil society groups are involved in promoting the rights of LGBT individuals, and most maintain a very low profile due to fear of public backlash and reprimands" (LIPRIDE Oct. 2015).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] ISHR is an independent human rights NGO with offices in Geneva and New York and "local partners around the world," that supports "human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, and leading and participating in coalitions for human rights change" (ISHR n.d.).

References

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR). September 2014. The Situation of Human Rights Defenders Liberia: UPR Briefing Paper. [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017]

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 11 Jan. 2017]

Liberia. 27 October 2016. The Bureau of Public Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Daily Media Summary, 2016-10-27." [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017]

Liberia Initiative for the Promotion of Rights, Independence, Diversity, and Equality (LIPRIDE). October 2015. Shadow Report on Liberia. [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017]

Liberian Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN). N.d.a. "What We Do." [Accessed 6 Jan. 2017]

Liberian Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN). N.d.b. "About Us." [Accessed 6 Jan. 2017]

The New Dawn Liberia. 22 December 2015. "Coalition Speaks Against Rights Violation." [Accessed 6 Jan. 2017]

The NEWS (Monrovia). 13 May 2015. "Liberia: Group Wants Gov't Respect Human Rights." [Accessed 17 Jan. 2017]

Sweden. December 2014. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Rights of LGBTI People in Liberia. [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral Sources, Including: Action Aid Liberia; Liberian Women Empowerment Network.

Internet Sites, Including: Action Aid Liberia; African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights; Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre; AIDS Accountability International; Amnesty International; Association of Liberian People Living with HIV and AIDS; The Capitol Times Online; Deutsche Welle; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; In Profile Daily; International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission; IRIN; The Liberian Times; Liberia Watch for Human Rights; MSMGF; Outright International; Panafrican; United Nations – Refworld, UN Women; United States – Department of State.

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