As the number of rape cases increases in Liberia, Montserrado County’s district #4 Representative, Rustolyn Suakoko Dennis, has asked the plenary of the House of Representatives to invite the Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection, Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr, and her deputies, as well as the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, to give updates on the status of the raging statutory rape across the country.
Deliberating in plenary on Thursday, March 10, 2022, Representative Dennis emphasized that with the high level of increase in rape cases in Liberia, the women and children are counting on them, the lawmakers, to address their concerns.
A motion was made that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social protection and her deputies and the Ministry of Justice appear on Thursday, March 17, 2022 to explain the root cause of the high level of rape cases in Liberia, and what can be done to mitigate the situation.
The Montserrado County district #4 lawmaker asserted that the issue of rape has been flagged only on social media. “My main reason for calling them is for these ministries to able to give the Liberian people an update on the cases that has been reported, and what has been done by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection,” Representative Dennis stated.
According to Representative Dennis, the issue of rape should not only be spoken about but deterrence should be served to mitigate the rise of rape.
“Rape will only be aired but no measure taken, there is no punishment for perpetrators who commit the crime of rape,” the Montserrado County lawmaker further noted.
Representative Dennis also asked the indulgence of the plenary of the House to ask the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to explain the root cause of all the rape cases occurring in Liberia.
She added that in Liberia 15-year-old boys are raping 3-year-old girls, while 17-year-old boys are raping 4-year-old girls, and so the Gender Minister needs to explain indepth the root cause of this.