The Pan African Plaza Building in Monrovia, now known as the One United Nations (UN) House, housing all UN organizations, celebrated the sixteen Days of Activism under the theme “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls.”

By Mae Azango mae.azango@frontpageafricaonline.com

The vibrant program brought together various women’s groups, including Crusaders for Peace, adorned in orange T-shirts, caps, and lappas. Men’s groups supporting the cause of women wore orange T-shirts and face caps. The event featured women defenders, rural women, and various women activists participating in panel discussions and brainstorming sessions on ending violence against women, girls, and boys.

Ernree Neeplo and Dhogba Mabande of UNDP and UNW coordinated the lighting of candles, symbolizing hope against violence. However, the audience was shocked when they provided an overview of several SGBV cases, including incest and the rape of minors as young as 3 years old.

Concealing the victims’ identities with random names, Mabande reported that three-year-old Sadia Freeman was raped by a 17-year-old boy in Paynesville, with an unstable condition now stabilized, and the perpetrator in prison awaiting trial. Another case involved a seven-year-old boy sodomized by an adult, the perpetrator detained and awaiting court trial. Additionally, a five-year-old girl named Kou Paye was raped by a 19-year-old man in Nimba County, receiving treatment while the perpetrator is in prison.

More murmurs arose from the audience when it was revealed that two girls were raped by their biological fathers. The first case involved 14-year-old Liz Johnson, raped by her 42-year-old biological father, charged with incest and rape, awaiting trial. The second case was 19-year-old Rebecca Togbah, consistently raped by her biological father, resulting in pregnancy and childbirth. The father is detained, awaiting court trial.

Other cases included the rape of 8-year-old Racheal Tamba on February 18, 2023, by a 30-year-old man, with the perpetrator charged and detained. Miama Brown, an 8-year-old, was raped on November 24, 2023, in Gbalatua Community in Bomi County, with the perpetrator forwarded to court. Josephine Kamara, an 11-year-old, was raped by a 61-year-old man in Mano River, Grand Cape Mounty, with the perpetrator awaiting trial, and the child in a safe home. Davetta Kiazulu, a 3-year-old, was forcibly initiated into the Sande society in Grand Cape County on August 6, 2023, released through the intervention of DCI, but no action has been taken against the perpetrators. Four-year-old James Tamba was gruesomely murdered in Bomi County on January 25, 2023, by family members found guilty of murder and criminal facilitation. Marie Boimah, a 16-year-old, was raped on January 27, 2023, in Bomi County, with the perpetrator charged and awaiting trial. A 13-year-old girl suffered multiple rapes by a 32-year-old man in Buzzy Quarter, with the perpetrator behind bars. Seventeen-year-old Maryou Yabogo was gang-raped on her birthday, suffering internal injuries, with the perpetrators on the run. A 14-year-old girl was raped by a 30-year-old man in Gbapolu County, resulting in severe bleeding and death. The perpetrator is arrested and awaiting court trial.

Ms. Christine Umutoni, UN Resident Coordinator, read the UN Secretary General’s message: “Violence against women is a horrific violation of human rights, a public health crisis, and a major obstacle to sustainable development. It is persistent, widespread – and worsening.” She emphasized that violence takes many forms, from sexual harassment to femicide, all rooted in structural injustice and millennia of patriarchy.

The message urged support for legislation and comprehensive policies to strengthen women’s rights protection. The UN Secretary General called for increased investments in prevention, support to women’s rights organizations, and an end to impunity for perpetrators. The goal is to build a world that refuses to tolerate violence against women.

At the event, Mme Ghoma Karloweah of UN Women recognized Human Rights Defenders awarded by the UN. She acknowledged the prevalence of violence against women and girls in Liberia, citing high rates of intimate partner violence. Karloweah highlighted the essential role of women’s human rights defenders in addressing gender-based violence and emphasized the risks they face, including harassment and threats. She thanked the Government of Liberia for providing space for women’s rights defenders and expressed the UN’s commitment to work with the government to safeguard their work through policy or legislation.

Monrovia – The United Nations joined the Government and people of Liberia to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will run until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

The global theme for this year’s campaign is “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!” The national theme is, “Enough is enough; Let’s act now to end violence against women, girls, children and other marginalized groups.”

Speaking at the official launch ceremony for the 16 days campaign held in Margibi County, Liberia, Mr. Niels Scott, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Liberia noted that while some gains have been made in eliminating all forms of violence and harmful practices through programmes such as the European Union, United Nations and Government of Liberia Spotlight Initiative, and the sexual and gender based violence  program previously funded by the Embassy of Sweden, there is a lot more that still needs to be done.

Mr. Scott cited statistics from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection which show that cases of gender-based violence increased alarmingly in 2020 with more than 2240 cases being reported.

“There is need for us to collectively and individually contribute to ending gender-based violence and bring the number of cases down,” says Mr. Scott. “There is need to strengthen primary prevention efforts and redefine power relations that have often put women and girls in a vulnerable situation at family, community, and institutional levels,” he says.

Mr. Niels recommitted the United Nations efforts to support the Government of Liberia in the fight against gender-based violence. He emphasized that the United Nations would continue to provide support and work with partners to end all forms of violence in Liberia.

The keynote speaker, Honourable, Mawine Diggs, Minister of Commerce and Industry delivered a powerful speech and challenged everyone to question themselves what they have done to fight this societal plague at the individual level.

 “I call upon all Liberians and foreigners in Liberia to end violence now. “We must work together and end gender-based violence now. Issues of violence can no longer be handled the family way…Victims must be heard, and perpetrators must be held accountable, she said.

The Ambassador of Sweden to Liberia, Urban Sjöström who spoke on behalf of the Embassies of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Sweden and the European Union; urged the government to fulfill all commitments made including scaling up survivor centred, comprehensive response to gender-based violence that includes prevention, psychosocial support for survivors, medical assistance, access to justice and rehabilitation programs for survivors, among other things.

Other speakers included Honourable Hassan Karney the Acting Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who highlighted that stopping violence starts with believing survivors. He emphasized the need to end all forms violence against women and girls now.

Marie Goreth Nizigama, UN Women Country Representative for Liberia also attended the official launch ceremony.

The United Nations in Liberia is supporting the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to host a series of events that have been lined up to commemorate the 16 days of Activism campaign.