The National Transitional Government was established under ...
The National Transitional Government was established under
2 MIN READ
In July 2008, following a string of
armed robberies, the Parliament adopted the Armed
Robbery Act, including provisions allowing for the death penalty for
homicides committed during acts of armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking. Liberian
Penal Code of 1976, already included the possibility of the death penalty for murder
as well armed robbery, mercernarism, terrorism, hijacking, treason, espionage resulting
in the death were capital offences but the new law goes against Liberia’s
international commitments. On 16 September 2005, in fact, the National
Transitional Government, led by Charles Gyude Bryant, had acceded to the Second
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. President
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who could have opposed the legislation of 2008, signed
it into law.
It seems that courts are ruling as if the Penal Code of 1976 is unaffected by the 2005 accession to the Second Optional Protocol.
In 2014, the Ministry of Justice initiated a bill to abolish the death penalty and life imprisonment for juvenile offenders, while the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) also advocated for a Constitutional amendment abolishing the death penalty pursuant to the Constitution Review Committee process.
In 2015, no executions or death sentences were recorded in Liberia. The last executions, 14, took place in 2000.
As of 18 February 2015, nine persons were on death row, according to the Government.
United Nations
On 4 May 2015, Liberia was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council. In its National Report, the Government said that Liberia acknowledged its international obligations under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. However, in its response to the recommendations received, the Government did not support recommendations to abolish the death penalty.
In December 2014, Liberia, as in previous years, abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.
It seems that courts are ruling as if the Penal Code of 1976 is unaffected by the 2005 accession to the Second Optional Protocol.
In 2014, the Ministry of Justice initiated a bill to abolish the death penalty and life imprisonment for juvenile offenders, while the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) also advocated for a Constitutional amendment abolishing the death penalty pursuant to the Constitution Review Committee process.
In 2015, no executions or death sentences were recorded in Liberia. The last executions, 14, took place in 2000.
As of 18 February 2015, nine persons were on death row, according to the Government.
United Nations
On 4 May 2015, Liberia was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council. In its National Report, the Government said that Liberia acknowledged its international obligations under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. However, in its response to the recommendations received, the Government did not support recommendations to abolish the death penalty.
In December 2014, Liberia, as in previous years, abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.
KEEP READING
ALL THE NEWS · DEATH PENALTY On the same front

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Pakistan: ASI sentenced to death for killing two brothers in Swabi

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Bangladesh: HC confirms death sentence of lone accused for rape, murder of 8-year-old Asiya

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 30, 2026
Pakistan: Man sentenced to death, brother gets life term for double murder in 2021

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 23, 2026
Eastern Libya executes 10 convicted on terrorism charges

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 21, 2026
Japan: man executed over killing 5 people

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 15, 2026
