MONROVIA – As Liberia joins the rest of the world in the observance of the 16 Days of Activism, the group, under the banner #WeAreUnprotected campaign has called on the Liberian Government to take a proactive stance in protecting women and children against sexual and gender-based violence.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh- 00231880881540 / 00231777769531 [email protected]
The #weareUnprotected campaign comprises Liberian women, feminist activists and young people that are dedicated advocate by calling policies makers to act in ending sexual and gender-based violence against women, girls and children in Liberia.
In a press statement following the launch of the campaign, the #weareUnprotected campaigners vowed to continue to use these 16 Days of Activism and onwards to engage and monitor the Legislature’s action on passing the bill on Domestic Violence over the next 40 days; understanding that the Executive Order of 2018, signed by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was valid for a year.
The anti SGBV campaigners in the release, acknowledged the commitment made by President George M. Weah and Senator Peter Coleman on behalf of the government to heighten the fight against SGBV.
Speaking at the state-organized launch of the 16 Days of Activism earlier this week, President Weah called for ‘a sustained fight against sexual gender-based violence in all its forms’; stating that government will provide every necessary support to efforts aimed at fighting violence against women and promoting gender equality.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gender, Health, Social Welfare, Women & Children Affairs, Dr. Peter Coleman called for the strengthening of the rape law to increase the sentences in cases where victims of rape die; drawing on his experience as a medical doctor to highlight the impact of the rape crisis in Liberia.
The group, however called on them to transform their words into actions and end the increasing waves of violence against women and children in Liberia.
The group: “In our engagement with the Legislature, we challenge Senator Coleman and his colleagues to shift from a position of Promise to one of tangible and timely action in passing all bills that protect human and girls’ rights and promotes the realization of rights by all citizens of our country. We must have genuine, transparent action from the state as a demonstration of its commitment to protecting citizens’ rights.”
It continues: “The #weareUnprotected campaign call on the President to play his defined role in upholding the constitution of Liberia by responding to violation of people’s rights, including sexual violence, using sustainable approaches that will prioritize an understanding of gender inequalities and its disproportionate impact on women, girls and marginalized people.”
The group in the release also noted that “Women and girls make up 50 percent of our national population; contribute to the development of Liberia; and are human beings.”
It furthered that the position of running a campaign to express anger and to be ‘#blue’ (the colour used during the launch) is redundant within the Liberian context as the entire country was angry and ‘#blue’ and seeking action-from the Government of Liberia; adding “We express outrage daily. Now we must act to end this crisis.”
According to the group, the campaign highlights the fact that 2018 presents a watershed moment in state accountability to address structural causes of violence against women, girls and other marginalized groups, including responding and ending the patriarchal position of various custodians of power in the legislature, executive and judiciary branches of government.
“As Liberian women, feminist activists and young people for an end to violence against our bodies, we hold this new configuration of power accountable based on our understanding of governance and their promises to bring change to a dire and pervasive context of sexual violence in Liberia,” it avowed.
It furthered that sexual violence has become more public and pervasive; becoming not only a criminal war against women and girls’ bodies, but also a public health crisis that has had limited response from the state in the last two decades.
Highlighting the 2018 statistics on sexual and other forms of gender-based violence as announced by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the group disclosed that in 2018 alone, 1,484 SGBV cases have been reported of which 971 were rape and of this figure, 90 percent was children.
It then called for the strengthening of systems that allow women and girls’ control over their bodies and access a justice system that is responsive, predictable and non-patriarchal when these rights are violated.