Country Demographics:

• Population:  3.4 million
• Religions:  Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, Indigenous beliefs 40%
• Income Per Capita:  $138.40 year/ 0.38 day
• Government Type:  Republic
  Chief of State:  Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since October 2003); this is an interim position until presidential elections are held in 2005
  Note: the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government

Legal Profession:

• Estimated number of lawyers in Liberia is 300
• Estimated number of believers involved in the legal profession is 200
• The name of the local Christian group is Liberian Christian Lawyers Network (LCN), founded in September of 2002.  Mr. Othello S. Payman is the leader of the 16-lawyer network. 

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

LCN’s lawyers are involved in the following activities:

• Prison ministries
• Participating in litigation and drafting legislation
• Peace-making conferences (conflict resolution)
• Organizing retreats, seminars and fellowship meetings
• Defending human rights in Liberia

Convocation Goals:

• The lawyers from LCN consider Advocates International’s Global Convocation important because it will allow them time for fellowship and experience sharing.  In addition, the Convocation will renew the Christian lawyers’ faith and will strengthen their links with the international law network.

Prayer Items:

• Success and sustainability of the United Nations peace process in Liberia
• Peaceful and victorious general democratic elections in 2005
• An increasing percentage of Christian lawyers in Liberia becoming members and participating in the Liberian Christian Network 

Contact Information:

• Othello S. Payman othellop2002@yahoo.com

ªLiberia In Actionª

As part of an effort to improve the human rights situation in their country, the Liberian Christian Lawyers Network is working in close collaboration with the judiciary department of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to enact a law on human trafficking.   There is currently no law against human trafficking on the books in Liberia, and many innocent Liberians and foreigners have become victims of this ugly and criminal practice.  LCLN lawyers pray and hope to have this law enacted before the end of the year.