Monrovia — The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), in collaboration with Sister Hand Liberia and Sister Aid Liberia Inc., convened a high-level strategic meeting with senior Government of Liberia officials to confront the growing incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.
By Patience M. Jones
The engagement brought together key government actors, including the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Minister of Justice, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police(LNP), the Solicitor General and the Montserrado County Attorney.
Their presence signaled strong political commitment and recognition of GBV as a pressing national concern.
Described by participants as timely and productive, the meeting created space for open dialogue, joint reflection and coordinated planning around both immediate and long-term interventions needed to address sexual and gender-based violence affecting women, girls and other vulnerable populations.
Government representatives reiterated their resolve to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms and called for deeper collaboration with civil society organizations and youth-led groups.
They emphasized that combating GBV requires a unified approach involving government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society actors and community stakeholders.
During the discussions, civil society organizations outlined several persistent challenges undermining effective GBV response.
These include limited access to medical, psychosocial, and legal services for survivors; a shortage of shelters and safe spaces beyond Monrovia; weak referral and case management systems; and inadequate support for Women and Children Protection Sections.
Additional concerns raised were delays in investigations and prosecutions, stigma and fear that discourage reporting, and inconsistent funding for prevention and response programs.
Participants also examined Liberia’s existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Domestic Violence Act, the Rape Law and the Children’s Law.
While these instruments provide a legal basis for protection and accountability, stakeholders acknowledged ongoing gaps in enforcement, coordination, and implementation.
Civil society leaders stressed the importance of strengthening multi-sectoral coordination, enhancing accountability within the justice and security sectors, expanding survivor-centered services and prioritizing prevention initiatives.
They highlighted the need to actively engage men, boys, and young people in challenging harmful social norms that perpetuate violence.
At the close of the meeting, WONGOSOL, Sister Hand Liberia and Sister Aid Liberia reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with the Government of Liberia to build a more effective and coordinated response to GBV.
They welcomed the commitments expressed by government officials and called for sustained political leadership, adequate resources and concrete follow-up actions to ensure justice, protection, and dignity for all survivors across Liberia.
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