Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Liberia (Ratification: 1962)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate whether section 52(1)(b) of the Penal Law on sedition, which could punish certain forms of criticism of the Government with imprisonment (which may involve an obligation to work pursuant to section 34.14(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law), was still in force. The Committee notes the Penal Law of 1978, transmitted by the Government, which contains new provisions criminalizing sedition as well as criminal libel against the President with penalties of imprisonment (sections 11.11 and 11.12). The Committee notes with satisfaction that sections 11.11 and 11.12 have been repealed by the amendment to the Penal Law published on 26 February 2019, known as the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.