CUSTOMARY LAW, THE COURTS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN LIBERIA

Photo: David Isaksson
The International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC) today released a new report entitled Still Looking for Justice: Customary Law, the Courts and Access to Justice in Liberia.
In its report, ILAC examines the role of justice providers in Liberia. Under the country’s dual legal system, this includes both customary authorities applying traditional rules to resolve minor crimes and civil disputes in rural areas and the formal judiciary, which applies statutory law and enjoys general countrywide jurisdiction.
These actors collectively play a key role in prevention and resolution of local conflicts that could trigger broader unrest. However, Liberia’s legacy of conflict and fragility pose continuing challenges to the ability of justice providers to fulfil their preventive potential.