The Lutheran church in Liberia (LCL) Gender Justice Project has condemned in the strongest termed the inhumane treatment meted against a 17-year-old female student and the gruesome murdering of a 22-year-old pregnant woman and her daughter.
By: Jonathan O. Grigsby, Contributing writer
Recently, in the White Plain Community in Rural Montserrado County, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, Promise Bowah and her six-year-old daughter, Miracle David, were gruesomely killed by a man believed to be her boyfriend Madison Garpah.
Also, a student of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School System in Brewerville, Montserrado County, Grace Jlateh, was seen on social media handcuffed on grounds that her parents could not afford to pay 10 United States Dollars for gown rental.
But speaking Thursday in Monrovia at a news conference, LCL Gender Justice Project Coordinator, Henrietta Martor, described the killing of Madam Bowah and Little Miracle David as barbaric including handcuffing of female student Jlateh, as a gross violation of her human rights dignity.
Mrs. Mantor: “We categorically condemned the act by the School Principal, Papa Konneh and by extension the administration of the school including the Court Sheriff as well as suspect Garpah describing these actions cruel and brutal, which are unacceptable in our Liberian society”.
She believes that the move by Principal Konneh and the school administration has the propensity to discourage less fortunate individuals who are doing their utmost best to secure their future.
“If the youth are truly the future leaders, then, we (parents, guardians, school administrators and all policymakers) need to do everything possible to keep them in school instead of discouraging them for whatever reason or reasons like what Principal Konneh did to female student Jlateh.
The Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL) Gender Justice Project Coordinator thanked the Justice Ministry for taking seize of female student Jlateh’s matter seriously to ensure that she receives justice.
Mrs. Mantor, who is a strong advocate for women and girls’ rights in Liberia also praised the Gongloe Law Firm and Pastor Facia H. Ansah of the Victory Church for their prompt intervention.
She further thanked officers of the Liberia National Police and other security apparatus for moving swiftly to has suspect Garpah that will lead to him face with full weight of the law for the he committed.
Madam Mantor vowed: “We want to be emphatically clear that the Gender Justice Project of the Lutheran church in Liberia will religiously follow the process till justice is served”.
Meanwhile, the Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL) Gender Justice Project Coordinator disclosed that it has embarked on a nationwide campaign to educate the people to curtail the high prevalence rate of sexual gender-based violence in the country.
Mrs. Mantor pointed out that the issue is on the increase, something that is deeply worrisome for all well-meaning Liberians for which they need to join forces in combating this unwholesome threat.