 | | Photo: Justo Casal |
And all of the sudden the rain started pouring heavily. Here in Guinea the raining season has just started and it is the joy of the locals who depend almost entirely on their farming and agricultural ventures. I am in the city of Nzerekore – that derives from the word Zali Kwele. Zali is the name of a creek that passes through the core of the city and Kwele means nearby- located in the south of the country close to the Liberian border. Human Rights in Guinea
 | | Photo: Justo Casal |
As part of my LLM International Human Rights Law course at UCE in Birmingham, I have to write a dissertation in any topic related to human rights issues. I have chosen to do my dissertation in this part of the world in order to see how the new Liberian government, which is headed by Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf, the first ever woman as a head of state in Africa, would treat the unaccompanied minors refugees who are residing in Nzerekore upon arrival in Liberia, as well as how the “best interest of the child” principle would be considered by the authorities and the international organizations involved. Liberian Refugees
 | | Photo: Justo Casal |
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the main actor in the repatriation of Liberian refugees and different organizations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and GTZ help in this exercise in one way or another. After spending four days in Guinea’s capital Conakry, I travelled to Nzerekore, better known as the Forest Region of Guinea, where I will be for about a month working as an intern for UNHCR in an array of projects and activities in the three refugee camps.
 | | Photo: Justo Casal |
So far I have already taken part on the daily radio programme which informs Liberian refugees the new developments that are happening back home so they can make a firm decision whether repatriating to Liberia is the best solution or not. Kola Camp Furthermore, I had the chance to visit one of the refugee camps, Kola Camp, where we conducted a survey to understand why these refugees from these particular ethnic clans are reluctant to return home and what they are waiting for to go back since other country-mates have repatriated with heaps of hope to start a new life back home.
 | | Photo: Justo Casal |
No doubt that Liberia is moving on the right direction and that the new government is doing its best to strength and implement fully those basic human rights which Charles Taylor violated grossly during his tenure. Let’s not sleep in the laurels and let’s put our forces together to help these people fulfil their dream: go back home as soon as possible. | 
