Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis (Liberia, 1999)
Founder of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL), Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis, was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in 1999. In the aftermath of Liberia's civil war, Archbishop Francis advocates for the international community's involvement in sustaining peace, reconstructing the nation, and developing a democratic political infrastructure. He stresses that the respect for the full spectrum of human rights is the foundation for sustained peace.
To ensure that the Liberian people's human rights are considered and protected, RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights is working with Archbishop Francis and his organizations, JPC and Radio Veritas, to involve the Liberian citizens in their country's peace process and reconstruction, encouraging them to work alongside intervening nations, and encouraging a sustainable peace through the strengthening of civil society. RFK Center also evaluated the contributions of the United Nations and the United States in order to maximize effectiveness and develop new strategies for improving the quality of life for the Liberian people. RFK Center is advocating for a change in the United Nations' Mission to facilitate this goal and thereby overcome a serious hurdle to creating last peace in Liberia. RFK Center is also researching Liberian law to hold human rights violators, multinational corporations, the Liberian rubber industry, and others accountable; investigating the allocation of aid to Liberia; providing capacity-building training for Radio Veritas; seeking web-broadcasting tools for Radio Veritas; using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information about human rights violators for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia; digitizing past and present human rights abuses; and providing international human rights training for Radio Veritas and JPC priests.
Archbishop Francis was afflicted by a stroke in early 2004 and his condition continues to slowly improve. The loss of such an important voice in Liberia invigorated the Catholic Church to keep his mission going. In February 2005, Monsignor Andrew Karnley was appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Monrovia and is carrying on the social change goals identified by Archbishop Francis.
For more information, please contact Sushetha Gopallawa (202) 463-7575 x270, gopallawa@rfkmemorial.org
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