The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, in partnership with local NGOs, has assured of its continued strive to eliminate violence against women and girls in the country.
The ministry and its local NGO partners paid a visit to several communities in Montserrado Country to evaluate and monitor the implementation of the Ganta Declaration, which calls for a one-year suspension of all sande society activities, including female genital mutilation (FGM).
The Ganta Declaration was signed on June 25, 2019, and calls for a one-year suspension of sande society and bush school activities, where young women and girls are initiated into adulthood through a series of activities.
After the successful completion of the spotlight initiatives in December, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has embarked on revisiting 50 communities in Montserrado County to evaluate and monitor residents’ response on the effectiveness of dealing with the issue of gender-based violence within the community.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry for Gender, the Director of SGBV, Viola H. Cooper, indicated that a few years ago UN funded the EU spotlight initiative, which focuses on a book that deals with comprehensive prevention strategies of putting an end to violence against women.
When she asked whether the residents were engaged into awareness programs, they responded that they usually carry out awareness on teenage pregnancy and other forms of violence against women about two times a week.
Vamuyah A. Dully, the Chairman of the Vouson community, Brewerville, said since the ministry went there and taught them the importance of preventing violence against women, they have been carrying out awareness.
According to one of the participants, the book has made her to understand what to do when she comes across rape cases and how to investigate the crime.
The Chairman of Samuka Town community said, “Even before the initiative started in 2020 the community never use to compromise rape cases, noting that the initiative just added to their knowledge on the issue.”
The Director for Sexual and Gender-based Violence at the Ministry of Gender, Viola Cooper, informed them that, in case there is a case of violence in the community they should call 116, adding that they were there to observe whether or not the program was working. She urged them to encourage community policing and courting.
She said, because Liberia is a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, that is why they have been tasked with the responsibility to protect the communities against these types of violence.
Cooper said that, just a few days ago, a little child was raped, with the child losing so much blood and, as a result, the little girl died. However, she said, they will make sure that their children are protected.
She encouraged them to keep up the awareness so that Liberia can be a safe place for all Liberians. The community residents turned out in their numbers to be a part of the program, and appreciated the team for the good work. They promised to promote all of what they have learned from the training.
In addition, the Executive Director of a partnering organization, Systems for Providing Aid, George King Sleeves, said the initiative is in five counties, including Nimba, Lofa and Grand Gedeh, and that they were happy that their community was opportune to be a part.