Monrovia – The President of the Liberia Women Forum (LWF), a local NGO founded to seek the interest of women in Liberia has called for an immediate probe into allegation of rape at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Memorial Hospital.
The LWF President Gurly Gibson has strongly condemned the acts of sexual violence and savage rape in Liberia.
In an interview with FrontPageAfrica Thursday, Madam Gurly said Liberia is no longer at war to still have domestic violence and rape against women on the increase.
The LWF President said JFK should be a hospital that Liberians trust and not the other way, saying if violence against women and rape is being practiced at the country referral hospital, Liberians especially women will not have any confidence in the health system.
“Women need to be protected in every parts of Liberia, be it in the street or the hospital, the hospital should even be the last place for such violence against women to occur,” she noted.
Madam Gurly call for probe in the rape allegation at the JFK comes in the wake of a reported rape incident at the Hospital where a young girl was reportedly raped by a dietitian. The LWF has described the act as devilish and demonic.
It is reported that the girl spent about a month at the JFK undergoing treatment when a dietitian at the hospital allegedly raped her while he was pretending to provide the patient food. The incident occurred last Saturday and the alleged perpetrator is currently undergoing investigation at the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police.
The LWF has urged the Government of Liberia for an immediate protection of the girl and a speedy investigation into the matter.
“We are gravely concerned by the report of the act of rape at our only referral hospital; we frown on violence, including sexual violence against women and teenage girls and boys in Liberia,” she noted.
The LWF President wants an immediate end to violence targeting women and children saying the barbaric acts of evil men continue to be perpetrated against women and girls.
She said the Acts of sexual violence are grave human rights violations that can be considered as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The LWF President called on humanitarian NGOs and the International Community to direct their focus on Liberia, saying, another war has started against young girls, women and children.
The Liberian Women Forum President also pledged that her office will closely monitor the situation to ensure justice and advocate for support to the victims of the act of rape against women.
The LWF President also called on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who also is a female to personally look into the matter and take steps that will ensure that justice is provided to the victim.
“We at the Liberian Women Forum want to say to the family of the victim that we are in pain with you, and we will stand by you until we see that justice prevails in your child’s favor,” she noted.
Madam Gurly frowned on the gruesome murder of a Liberian business woman on the Kakata- Monrovia Highway.
Recently a ‘businesswoman identified as Yassah Mulbah Zumo, commonly called Tokpai, and a resident of the Rock Hill Community on GSA Road in Monrovia was found lying dead in a ditch at the Todee Junction along the Monrovia-Kakata Highway in Margibi County.
According reports the Police has asked the family to take over the body and was deposited at the St Moses Funeral Home on the Somalia Drive and the driver of the Ministry of Health in whose vehicle the woman was riding has been detained as the prime suspect while the Police is conducting an investigation.
She noted that her group regrets the death of Madam Zumo and is as well calling for government intervention to bring to book the perpetrators.
The Liberia Women Forum is a Non-Governmental Organization situated in Congo Town, Montserrado, Liberia to protect women and tackle issues affecting women in Liberia.
The NGO is also involved with providing scholarships for underprivileged women and providing support for less fortunate women and girls around Liberia.
Organization also recruits young girls from the streets who are involved in commercial sex at various night clubs and entertainment centers.
Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)[email protected]