IPNEWS-Monrovia- President George Manneh Weah has by Proclamation declared Saturday, January 16, 2021 as “ECOWAS Human Rights Day”, and is to be officially observed on Monday, January 18, 2021, as a Working Holiday throughout the Republic.

The Proclamation calls on citizens and foreign residents, national and international organizations as well as government agencies concerned to join the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INHCR) in organizing and executing appropriate programs befitting the observance of the Day.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s ECOWAS Human Rights Day will take place at the Monrovia City Hall, in Montserrado County.

The celebration will take place under the International Theme: “Promoting Rights to Health Education and Opportunity to Enjoy Indigenous Cultural Health Practices”

At the same time the event will be commemorated under the National Theme: “Ensuring the Promotion of Health Education and Opportunity to Enjoy Harmless Indigenous Cultural Health Practice in Liberia”.

The Proclamation further stresses that the celebration of the ECOWAS Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reflect and recommit to the solemn undertakings by the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) and the Liberian people to promote and safeguard humans and people’s rights.

According to the Proclamation, the commemoration is intended to continuously awaken greater awareness for the peoples and governments of the Economic Community of West African States about the value of life and humanity and to renew Liberians’ collective commitment to protect, respect and uphold fundamental human rights.

This day is symbolic as it expresses the gratitude of partnership and continues collaboration aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the West African States and the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the Liberian People, the release further emphasizes.

The Proclamation also recounts that the existence of this day guarantees the promotion, protection and respect for human rights by state parties which form the basis for the commemoration of the ECOWAS’ Human Rights Day on 16TH January each year.

The Fiftieth Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was convened on December 17, 2016 in Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Proclamation declares.