MONROVIA – Members of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) with determination have signaled to perpetrators and would-be perpetrators that they will not relent in advocating for the prevention and end of multi-dimensional violence.
AFELL which is expected to host its first convention in the 29 years of its systemic advocacy in protecting and promoting the rights of women and children in Liberia officially began its activities with parade from the Law Library and ended to the Temple of Justice will have its indoor activities from February 23-24, 2023.
AFELL’s president Attorney Philomena T. Williams said “with the support of international partners, for twenty-nine years, we have focused our advocacy on educating communities to know and exercise their rights.”
According to her, the Association has raised awareness on gender inequality, health risks of female genital mutilation, amended gender insensitive laws and have emphasized the benefit of accountability.
Atty. Williams noted that AFELL has over the years, represented indigents, providing legal services to those in need of legal assistance who are not able to afford lawyers.
“Since the establishment of our organization, we have continued to speak strongly against all forms of violence the lives of many women and children over the years and enhanced their personalities,” she explained.
AFELL’s president revealed that with effectiveness of activism, multi-dimensional violence in the nation has intensified and therefore, needs attention.
Speaking after a parade with female lawyers, women and children, Atty. Williams disclosed the growing terror in rape cases, and it’s damaging and harmful effect on children as young as two to three years old; adding that the increase in domestic violence and abuse -women are severely beaten by their spouses and left with indelible scars.
“The growing number of unabated murders without redress, sadly we are reminded of the dreadful murder of a security woman in her home in Brewerville, outside of Monrovia. Ritualistic killing is widespread across the length and breadth of Liberia. Fearfully, women are reporting threats to their lives,” she indicated.
She furthered, “this parade is a call to attention recognizing that to battle all forms of violence, and we should collectively target the cause.”
The Cllr. Added that to stop all forms of violence requires the affirmative action of the government; saying that as AFELL appreciate the President, His Excellency George M. Weah for his appointment of a female Chief Justice and other females in position of Leadership, AFELL need the President to act more and make strong public condemnations of issues of violence against women and children.
She also called on the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police Col. Patrick Sudue to focus on developing deterrence strategies to reduce violence and to impartially enforce the arrest of perpetrators, where probable cause is established and the matter procedurally taken to court.
“In this regard, AFELL, a non-political and non-governmental organization, yet with the mandate to educate our citizens, is appealing to the electorates to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Kindly note that under our constitution, power is inherent in the people,” Atty. Williams added.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah said AFELL is a part of the LNBA that is why whatever affects the women of Liberia, affects the Bar.
Cllr. Varmah stressed that due to that, the LNBA has elevated the conversion around domestic violence against women; saying that the Bar will continue to work with the leadership AFEEL to talk about the issue of violence against women because it has become prevalent that women have been beaten and their rights have been violated.
The Bar Secretary General explained that it is not only in Liberia that women rights have been violated; disclosing that it is an issue that confronts African countries.
However, Kortu Dolo expressed frustration over gender violence, adding that the abuser will not stop until something happens.
“We need help, our abuser will not leave us because we held some poster that says “stop all forms of violence against women”, we need to follow up with some long terms actions and sustain efforts because they will come back at us,” she cried out.
She revealed that she was a victim of domestic violence, adding that she still lives with it because her “ex-husband built up gangs against me, even five years after our divorce, I am coming out the relationship.”
He continued, “The court is tired with us but our abuser is defining the court’s order and they wants to take our children, property and livelihood, so we have to keep going back.”
“We are in pains, and if you have other resources, they will still come at us and this is weakening us day and night,” she called on AFELL.
She revealed that, “The abuser is like virus or paradise and even if you do not have background, it will still come after you so we have to deal with it in our system in Liberia.
For the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), Siatta Scott-Johnson, thanked AFELL for joining hands as sister organization to fight against domestic violence.
“There is no different between women lawyers and women Journalists and we are glad that we are doing this for the first time and hope that this will continue,” she noted.
She emphasized that the issue about violence against women is not just women issue but also it is society issues. “If the society must do the right thing, we need the law to give us access to justices,” she urged.