UNMIL Reacts To Media Report
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),says, it attention has been drawn to an article entitled: ‘Correction Advisory Unit Head Taken to Task,' published in the 26 May 2008 edition of the National Chronicle newspaper. According to the article, the head of UNMIL Corrections Advisory Unit (CAU) is accused of demanding the deactivation of corrections officers.
UNMIL indicates that it sees this newspaper article as irresponsible and categorically rejects any suggestions that the Mission , through its Corrections Advisory Unit, is interfering in the deactivation of personnel of the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice.
UNMIL in a release, emphatically states that its role in Liberia is to support the Government in reforming and restructuring the institutions of the rule of law, thus enhancing the Criminal Justice System in the country. Therefore any decision to deactivate personnel of any agency of Government is the prerogative of the Liberian Government and not UNMIL.
In an effort to strengthen the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation to enable it to play an effective role in the Criminal Justice System, UNMIL, through its CAU, has proposed some reforms to ensure the deactivation of staff in the bureau is carried out fairly. The Mission recommended to the Ministry of Justice that existing staff members be reviewed on an individual basis in terms of education, human rights record, performance, retirement age, health and physical fitness. Following this review, successful candidates are to do a written examination before being included on the team for further capacity building. These recommendations are yet to be approved by the Justice Ministry.
Threats made against the head of the UNMIL Corrections Unit, UNMIL release asserted are totally unacceptable and UNMIL takes these threats very seriously. UNMIL has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all its personnel who are in this country to support the Government and people of Liberia , as they recover from conflict, as well as to enhance Liberia 's reconstruction and development.
