A Community Based Group-Platform for Dialogue and Peace (P4DP) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a project titled, “Rule by Law and Live by Rules (RULLAR).

The project is funded under UNDP's Joint Rule of Law Programme by Sweden and Ireland. It is aimed at increasing legal literacy, education and raising awareness on access to justice and security services amongst law enforcement personnel and local communities in Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Montserrado Counties.

The official launch took place in Monrovia under the Theme “Strengthening the Rule of Law in Liberia: Justice and Security for the Liberian People”.

Giving the overview of the initiative, the Executive Director of the Platform for Dialogue and Peace (P4DP), Jimmy Shilue said ‘RULLAR’ also seeks to help find ways to address the issues of lawlessness and violence that have permeated the Liberian society mainly perpetrated by young people.

“The project will work with the government through different justice actors, schools, communities and other organizations to create awareness on the rule of law, drug abuse and other unlawful acts in Liberia,”Shilue noted

He said legal aid and other services will also be provided to indigent people in targeted counties.

According to the P4DP boss, the government through the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), the Ministries of Education, Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGDSP) and Youth and Sports as well as local authorities, have expressed willingness to collaborate with the Organization for the successful implementation of the project.

Representatives from government ministries and agencies, schools, civil society organizations, local and international NGOs, motorcycle union, youth and women groups among others, also made remarks at the program and pledged their respective institutions’ support to the project.

“People will always go with impunity if we refuse to test the law. If we continue to let go without attempting to take advantage of the rule of law…Test the law and see whether it will not work for you. You must make the law work,” said Deddeh Kwakwa of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Madam Kwakwa encouraged people living in communities to take advantage of the country’s court system and avoid compromising cases, especially those on rape and other gender based violence in the country.

Samuel K.  Goteh, Monitoring & Evaluation Analyst, GOL/UNDP/UNMIL Joint Rule of Law Program officially launched the project on behalf of UNDP. He pledged UNDP’s support to the implementation of the project and other interventions aimed at promoting access to justice and rule of law in Liberia.