K Forh Yancy, contributing writer
In a historic diplomatic breakthrough, Liberia has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2025–2026 term. The victory is a moment of pride for a country still healing from the scars of civil war and navigating the challenges of development, governance, and human rights.
For Liberia, this is more than a seat at the table; it’s a chance to redefine its global image, assert its moral leadership, and help shape the international agenda. But to truly rise to the occasion, Liberia must confront uncomfortable questions at home, particularly regarding its human rights record, and that includes the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
The Security Council is the most powerful organ of the UN, with the authority to impose sanctions, mandate peacekeeping operations, and authorize military interventions. Liberia now finds itself in a rare position to influence global decisions on conflict, peacebuilding, and international law. The symbolism is potent: a country that once represented the fragility of post-colonial African states now stands to help guide the world through some of its most dangerous crises.
But symbolism without substance is a wasted opportunity. Liberia’s presence on the Security Council will only matter if it uses its voice courageously and consistently, not only in condemning injustice abroad, but also in addressing it at home.
Liberia’s human rights record is mixed at best. While the country has made important strides in consolidating democracy, attempting to prosecute war crimes, and empowering women in leadership, it remains deeply conservative and hostile to sexual minorities.
LGBTQ+ Liberians live in fear of violence, ostracization, and criminalization. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal, punishable by up to one year in prison under archaic laws that remain on the books. The government has repeatedly failed to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from mob violence and discrimination. Politicians invoke religion and culture to deflect calls for reform, even as young Liberians push for greater inclusivity and justice.
Now, with global attention focused on Liberia’s role at the UN, the country has an opportunity—indeed, a responsibility—to demonstrate that it can lead not only in foreign affairs but also in the universal defense of human rights.
The Security Council is not typically the arena where LGBTQ+ rights are debated, but it is where international norms are tested and defined. When Liberia takes positions on conflicts that involve gender-based violence, authoritarian crackdowns, or displacement crises, its voting record and public statements will carry moral weight. Will Liberia speak up for vulnerable populations, or will it retreat into silence to avoid controversy?
Liberia can’t advocate for the protection of civilians in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, or Myanmar while ignoring the persecution of queer people in its streets. Human rights are not a buffet at some upscale restaurant. They are universal and indivisible. If Liberia wants to be taken seriously as a global moral voice, it must demonstrate that principle domestically.
This means more than platitudes. It means legal reform: repealing criminal laws that target LGBTQ+ people and introducing anti-discrimination protections. It means public leadership: using the presidential podium and national media to call for tolerance and condemn hate. It means civil society empowerment: allowing grassroots organizations to operate freely and advocate without fear.
To date, Liberia’s leaders have largely avoided this fight, fearing backlash from religious institutions and conservative voters. But leadership is not about waiting for the wind to blow in your favor. It’s about helping change its direction.
There are reasons for hope. Liberia’s youth are increasingly connected to global movements for social justice. LGBTQ+ activists, though operating under threat, continue to organize, advocate, and dream of a freer future. Liberia’s media and judiciary have shown moments of independence and courage. International partners, especially the European Union and the United States, have begun conditioning aid and support on measurable human rights benchmarks.
As Liberia ascends to the Security Council, it should recognize that the eyes of the world are not just on its votes, but on its values.
The Council’s agenda over the next two years will likely include debates over peacekeeping mandates, nuclear proliferation, post-conflict reconstruction, and the protection of civilians. Liberia can be a force for good, drawing on its own experience of war and reconciliation to promote dialogue, diplomacy, and justice. But that voice will ring hollow if it cannot address its contradictions.
We call on President Joseph Boakai and Liberia’s political leadership to seize this moment, not just for diplomatic prestige, but for genuine progress. Start by opening a national dialogue on LGBTQ+ rights. Partner with human rights groups. Decriminalize love. Show that Liberia’s place on the Security Council is not a reward for past actions, but a commitment to future responsibility.
This is Liberia’s moment. It can be remembered as a footnote in diplomatic history—or as the beginning of a new chapter—in the country’s global and domestic evolution. The choice is not in the hands of the UN. It’s in the hands of Liberia.
And the world is watching.
This story was funded by the European Union under the Liberia Media Empowerment Project (LMEP). Its contents are the sole responsibility of journalRAGE and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
About the Author: K. Forh Yancy is a freelance queer writer based in West Africa exploring the subterranean levels of LGBQ+ issues in the region.