90 Pledges 2011 - Ministerial Intergovernmental Event on Refugees and Stateless Persons EXCERPT FROM NATIONAL STATEMENT Lesotho, therefore, is committed to promoting humanitarian Conventions at regional, continental or global levels. For Lesotho the implementation of these Conventions, shall remain a priority. To this end, Lesotho will, henceforth, continue to raise awareness among her citizenry of the critical importance of the Conventions. LIBERIA PLEDGE FORM Three pledges that the Government is committed to accomplish in 2012 regarding Refugee Protection, Statelessness and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (Kampala Convention). The Liberia Refugee Act (Refugee Protection) 1. The Liberia Refugee Act is styled and known as the LRA. The Liberia Refugee Act has undergone a series of discussions among key line Ministries and Agencies during the last two years. The objective of these interactive discussions was basically to make amendments in the refugee law so that it conforms with international best practices, regional perspective and today’s realities. The Proposed amended LRA will be submitted to the 53rd Legislature in 2012 for passage into law taking into consideration the processes of making laws in our jurisdiction. Some of the key proposed amendment issues are as follows: a. Government’s ownership of the LRA; b. Full operationalization of the Act; c. Expeditious adjudication of asylum claims through standard Refugee Status Determination proceedings (hearing); d. Protection of National Security interest; e. Judicial review responsibility shifting from the Supreme Court to the Circuit Court; f. Recognition of June 20th as World Refugee Day to be proclaimed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a working holiday (Highlighting the plight of refugees around the world with the appropriate Theme from UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva);