MONROVIA, LIBERIA-UNDP Resident Representative says the importance of access to justice is not only a legal concept, but also a development imperative.
Ambassador Alioune Mamadou Dia said,” It is central to peacebuilding, social cohesion and sustainable development, and when people are unable to seek redress for grievances, inequalities deepen and trust in the institution erodes”.
Ambassador Dia, however, noted that access to justice must be understood in inclusive terms and must prioritize those who are most vulnerable.
He disclosed that sixty-five percent of the prison population lacks the means to defend themselves, noting that public defenders are the only bridge between them and justice.
He noted that without effective public defense, the presumption of innocence is weakened, due process is compromised, and the risk of wrongful convictions increases.
Ambassador Dia made the remarks on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, when he served as the keynote speaker at the opening of the 8th Annual Convention of the National Association of Public Defenders of Liberia at the Temple of Justice.