Both houses of the National Legislature have responded to the recent rise in violent crime in Monrovia by passing–with remarkable speed–a bill making crimes, including armed robbery, punishable by the death penalty. I say “with remarkable speed” because almost every other bill I have followed has taken at least two legislative sessions to be passed by both houses.
Anyway, this is interesting because Liberia has signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which “obliges Liberia to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty,” according to this Amnesty International press release calling on President Sirleaf to veto the bill. The press release says that Liberia has “acceded” to the Second Optional Protocol. I take this to mean it has not been ratified, although that doesn’t diminish the government’s obligation to prohibit the death penalty.
The Second Option Protocol was among about 80 international treaties and covenants that former chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia Gyude Bryant signed upon taking office.
So it will be quite interesting to see what President Sirleaf does. Will she bend to the will of the international human rights community (and likely the European Commission and UN) and veto the bill, probably taking a political hit as I imagine this bill has widespread support among Liberians? Or will she sign the bill, making the legislature and Paynesville residents happy, but somewhat damaging her image as a progressive leader?
It only needs to be ratified if it was originally signed before it became effective. Once it’s in force, then a nation just needs to “accend” to the treaty.