The Gambia – Minister of Gender Children Social protection (MoGCSP) Williametta Saydee Tarr says More than Me (MTM) had no child protection policy prior and after the reported raping of several of its students by its co-founder Mcintosh Johnson.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
At the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Thursday,Saydee said “MTM never had a Child Protection Policy in place when the school opened even up to the time and after the incident occurred in 2014. That the Child Protection Policy of MTM was approved on February 8, 2018;”
The school doesn’t have an approval date of the MTM Policy for Child Protection regarding the Media.
She said there is no proof of reference or recommendation letter for staff, adding that the ministry observed that some students date of birth did not match registration forms (Media Consent Form), amongst others.
The findings followed a request made by President George Weah to investigate the situation.
A letter was written to the MTM Academy to ascertain their level of compliance during their operations prior to the school’s opening and onwards to the period of the incident in 2014.
A response was immediately communicated by the MTM Academy along with a dossier of documents to the Ministry of Gender.
The Minister said on October 26, 2018, the technical team of the Ministry reviewed the documents and observed generally that MTM Academy was not in compliance as an institution catering for young vulnerable girls during the period of their opening, and even after the incidence.
“It was also observed that the institution started being in compliance earlier this year – 2018,” she added.
Additionally, the Ministry of Gender, Children along with the Ministry of Youth & Sports held a meeting with parents and members of PTA Leadership on October 31, 2018, on their involvement in the anti-stigmatization and psychosocial plan.
The PTA decided to meet independently with over 100 persons declined from being part of the anti-stigmatization campaign on grounds that the incidence occurred 2014.
“That their participation will show that it is indeed true that their children are HIV/AIDS carriers which they believe that it is not true.
“Concerning the HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, that the parents do not trust the health practitioners on grounds that the previous test conducted in 2014 was exposed to the media which they feel uncomfortable about (No confidentiality). Therefore, they have refused for any testing of their children, ” the Minister said.
However, the Minister said they are working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to carry out the anti-stigmatization campaign.
A representative from the Ministry of Justice, Cllr. Isaac George disclosed that investigation is still ongoing but could not confirm if there will be another tria.
It is almost a month now since the Liberian Advisory Board announced an independent counsel to conduct an investigation but is yet to release its findings.
When students at More than me (MTM), the American charity, were raped by its co-founder, the school described it as the “worst nightmare” but refused to put in safeguards to protect the students.
The incident occurred in June 2014, according to MTM.
MTM was founded on what they believed that no young girl should have to sell themselves to meet their basic need.
The charity’s website cited the Ministry of Gender, saying that two-thirds of all rape victims in 2013 were between the ages of 3 and 14, yet less than one percent of perpetrators were convicted.
“We reevaluated our ratio of male and female staff and have made every effort possible to hire qualified female teachers as they interact with our students the most. We continue to monitor all of our staff, regardless of gender, to ensure there is no abuse of any kind,” it said.