MONROVIA – A one-day consultative session organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection (MGCSP), in collaboration with One –UN, has been held with Members of the National Legislature and Traditional Leaders.
The session which brought together lawmakers representing both Houses Committees on Gender, Children, Governance, Judiciary and Justice, was designed to engage members of the national legislature on the passage of the Domestic Violence Bill.
In her opening remarks, Gender Minister, Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr, recounted that the process of legislating Liberia’s Domestic Violence Bill has been long time coming, adding “we do not intend to sit and watch additional weeks, months or years slip away on our inactions.”
Minister Saydee-Tarr iterated that Domestic Violence causes long-term physical and mental health problems, and that violence and abuse affect not just the women and men involved, but also their children, families, and communities.
According to Min. Saydee-Tarr, research has proven that domestic violence also poses strained economic consequences including costs associated with healthcare spending and loss of labor market productivity.
The one-day consultative session which was held on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at the Farmington Hotel, in Margibi County, also brought together a cross section of International Partners including the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the Swedish Embassy, European Union (EU) and members of the One-UN.
The consultative session with the lawmakers comes following the expiration of the one-year Executive Order issued by former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, imposing a temporary ban on Female Genital Mutilation activities in Liberia.
The one-year period of the Executive Order elapsed on Saturday, January 19, 2019, with new debates emerging around the passage of the Domestic Violence proposed bill inclusive of the FGM’s component. The DVB has suffered several setbacks from the 52nd and 53rd Legislatures, and it is still lingering at the national legislature with lawmakers insisting on the removal of the FGM component.
The UN Resolution 1325 on Ending Violence Against Women, calls on member countries to ban Female Genital Mutilation as violence against women of which Liberia is no exception.
Additionally, Gender Minister Saydee-Tarr emphasized that the passage of the Domestic Violence Bill will increase Liberia’s chance of eligibility for the second compact of over US$247m under the Millennium Challenge Account, an agreement, Madam Saydee-Tarr disclosed has been signed between the governments of Liberia and the United States to support the country’s infrastructure programs.
In separate remarks, Sweden Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvistsaid her country’s role is to support the Liberian Government in championing women’s right, and eliminating all forms of violence against women. She at the same time urge Liberians to legislate laws that would protect the rights of women.
For his part, ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Babatunde Olanrewaju Ajisomo indicated that it is about time that Liberia exert all efforts in finalizing legal instrument that seeks to protect women and children from all harmful practices.
Amb. Ajisomo urged members of the National Legislature to see reason in passing the DVB which also set the stage for the abolishing of all forms of violence including harmful traditional practices, against women and children.
The head of the traditional council of Liberia -Chief Zanzan Karwor said, he will have to go back to his traditional people for further consultation so as to ensure that the actual message of abolishing their tradition resonates with them. He declined signing any document in Nigeria or Kenya committing Liberia to ending Female Genital Mutilation.”On behave of my people I heard what your say, but I have to go back and discuss it with them. That FGM issue, we have to look at it keenly before we take a decision on that,” Chief Karwor added.
In 2017 alone, a total number of 1,685 gender-based violence (GBV) cases were reported that accounted for rape, child abuse, sexual abuse, forced marriage, amongst others. At the end of the 2018 third quarter, a total of 1,826 GBV cases were reported of which women and girls accounted for 97%. This shows that women and girls are still vulnerable to violence especially rape in their communities.
Meanwhile, members of the national legislature promised to go back in their committee rooms and review the bill, debate and later take a decision on the passage of the proposed Domestic Violence Bill. The one-day consultative session was held under the sponsorship of the One-UN.