Human rights advocates working on transitional justice and human trafficking in Liberia say they are shocked by the US government this week closing its World Criminal Justice office to monitor and combat human trafficking.
Cut was part of what Rubio called the State Department a “dramatic” overhaul, saying the government’s diplomatic institutions “look bloated, bureaucratic” and “looks fundamentally political ideological.”
The World Criminal Justice Office, led by Ambassador Beth Van Shark under the previous Biden administration, provided extensive advice and technical support for the transitional justice process in Liberia. She had also pledged funds for the War Economic Crime Court, which experts said would cost at least US$10 million. President Donald Trump cancelled most of the annual funding from the U.S. International Development Agency in March, but justice experts hoped that the Global Justice of the Office, housed in the State Department, might have escaped the cuts.
That hope is almost dead now. Without US support, many supporters fear that the Liberian courts will not progress unless the Liberian government makes a big commitment.
“It would undermine Liberia’s quest for justice work,” said Adama Dempster, Liberia’s leading human rights advocate by texting WhatsApp. “It will also create room for perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions. The victims and survivors of war crimes’ atrocities will lose hope that those who have created the damage will not be held responsible.”
Before US aid was cut, experts had predicted the Liberian war and economic crime courts
It costs between US$10 million and $60 million. The US was supposed to provide a significant portion of that money. With this aid, the European Union and the Swedish government are now the most likely main funders of the courts, leaving the entire transitional justice process in Liberia.
Dr. Jarah Baab, executive director of the War Economic Crimes Court office, said he is talking to all potential donors.
“The office certainly looks forward to supporting us from all friendly countries and all international partners who believe in justice and the rule of law. “This office really looks forward to supporting us, whether technical, financial or moral.”
The office for monitoring and fighting human trafficking also plays a leading role in Liberia’s efforts to disrupt human trafficking. He has funded training for Liberian investigators, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, lawyers and civil society. This is an initiative that is crucial for Liberia’s anti-human trafficking programme. cllr. Liberian Labor Minister Cooper Crew did not respond to requests for comment on the proposed US cuts in human trafficking financing. However, in a telephone interview with Front Page Africa/New Story, Adolfs Satya, Director General of the Ministry’s Anti-Humanitarian Trafficking, said canceling support for Liberia’s trafficking would have serious consequences for the country and thousands of victims of human trafficking.
“Scary. It’s not a good sign for Liberia,” Satya said. “Our government does not have the ability to fully support the programme in Liberia.”
Last June, Liberia was downgraded to the Tier 2 watchlist in the US annual human trafficking report. In 2023, the Weah government was widely praised for taking unprecedented action of bringing home hundreds of women trapped in the trafficking rings of the Middle Eastern country. The WEAH government had budgeted $230,000 in 2023 to prevent trafficking efforts before diverting 90% of its budget.
Boaches’ government funding for human trafficking has dropped significantly. Despite repeated guarantees of more funds to the National Trafficking Program, only $40,000 has been allocated to the anti-human trafficking unit of the Department of Labor in the 2025 National Budget.
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The government has formed partnerships with several institutions fighting human trafficking, created awareness campaigns, and held meetings with stakeholders to assess the country’s national actions on human trafficking. However, the government lost the only lawsuit it had indicted in almost a year.
Experts warned that Liberia could be downgraded to Tier 3 due to poor performance and reduced risk aid. Given the Trump administration’s decimation of foreign aid and the removal of the office currently responsible for monitoring human trafficking, it is not clear what international organizations will pressure the government to act
Satya urged the government to support its own anti-human trafficking programme by “putting appropriate funds within budget to combat human trafficking on its own.”
The story is a collaboration with a new story as part of the West African Justice Reporting Project. The funds were provided by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia.
