MONROVIA – As Liberia joins other nations celebrating 16 Days of Activism this month, President George Manneh Weah has called for a sustained fight against sexual gender-based violence in all its forms.
Launching this year’s celebrations at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia Monday, November 26, 2018, President Weah President Weah who recently called him “Feminist in Chief” said his government would provide every necessary support to efforts aimed at fighting violence against women and promoting gender equality.
“All forms of gender-based violence against women are unacceptable,” the Liberian leader said, adding: “This is one of the most shameful and horrible acts unfortunately on the rise in the country.”
He urged Liberian women to stand up for their rights and resist all forms of violence against them.
The Feminist-in-Chief said the fight against gender-based violence in Liberia, coupled with the need to improve the lot of women, has reached a point that requires the collective action of all and not government alone.
The Liberian leader noted that the theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism, “End Gender-based Violence in Work Places, Schools and Communities” eloquently captures the prevailing realities of gender-based challenges facing Liberian women that must be tackled with utmost speed so that Liberia is not left behind in the fight against SGBV.
“Child abuse, rape and trafficking among others are all sad manifestations of gender-based violence in the country and these must be fought with determination in a collective way,” he said further.
“We must stand up to fight this shameful menace and create a safe and enabling environment for women and girls in our country.”
The President asserted that gender issues are integral to the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD, vowing that his government will provide appropriate support to institutions working to protect and empower women and girls against violence and abuse.
Earlier in the day, the Liberian leader led a parade of throngs of celebrants from the Snapper Hill on Broad Street to the Antoinette Tubman Sports stadium.
From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.