MONROVIA – The Liberian Women Forum (LWF) says it is appalled by reports of corporal punishment meted on a female student of the Soltiamon School System by the Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Solomon Joah, Jr.
The Acting President of the women’s advocacy group, Mrs. Kadi Coleman-Porte said Mr. Joah’s action must not go unpunished as she called on the Ministry of Education to tighten the screws regulations on both the private and public schools to ensure that human rights of children are not abused.
“The Liberian Women Forum is not against discipline, but from what we’ve seen and heard, Mr. Solomon Joah, Jr.’s actions were unjustified. She never deserved such brutality meted against her. There should be other forms of punishment that would still instill discipline rather than corporal punishment”, she said.
Madam Porte said it is imperative that all stakeholders, including ministries and agencies of government take a strong stance against violence against women and girls.
“The issue of gender-based violence is still not getting the attention it deserves. Reporting the cases alone is not enough. Most of these cases die natural death because they are not prosecuted. The Liberian Women Forum is calling on the government, state prosecutors to take cases relating to abuse of women’s and child’s right seriously, fast track them and ensure perpetrators face the full weight of the law,” she said.
She said the wave of violence against women in Liberia is becoming disturbing, citing the unexplained deaths of a woman at Palm Spring Resort and Odell Sherman who died shortly writing her WASSCE examination in Duazon, Margibi County.
The acting head of the women’s group said she looks forward to more stringent actions and measures against Soltiamon School System and Mr. Solomon Joah, Jr. who has admitted beating the 16-year-old female student.
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