The Feminist Coalition of Liberia, comprising the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Liberia Feminist Forum, Medica Liberia, Sisters for Sisters, and Radical Young Women Initiatives, has strongly condemned the recent incident in Gbarpolu County, northern Liberia, where a woman and her baby were violently manhandled and maltreated for allegedly disobeying the cultural norms of a “zoe”, as shown in a viral video circulating online.
According to the Feminist Coalition, this horrific act is a stark reminder of the on-going violence women and girls continue to face in Liberia under the guise of culture and tradition.
“As women-led institutions, we recognize the role of culture in shaping identity and community values, but culture must never be weaponized to intimidate, humiliate, or harm women and children,” they stated. They noted that when culture is misused as a tool for oppression, it perpetuates violence against women and undermines their dignity, rights, and humanity.
They said the violation is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of harmful practices that normalize violence against women and deny them protection and justice.
According to them, Liberia is a signatory to several international and regional instruments that safeguard women’s rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which obliges the state to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women.
They also pointed out the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), which prohibits harmful practices that endanger the health and lives of women.
They indicated that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security calls for the protection of women from gender-based violence and emphasizes women’s right to participate freely and equally in society.
“These commitments demand urgent action to ensure that no woman or girl is subjected to violence under the pretext of cultural practices. Our culture should be a source of unity and pride—not fear, intimidation or abuse,” they added. “We call on the Government of Liberia (GOL), particularly the ministries of Gender, Internal Affairs and Justice, to investigate this incident swiftly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.”
The collation called on the government to strengthen policies and laws that protect women and girls from harmful traditional practices, and ensure full enforcement. They also called for increased awareness and community engagement to change harmful cultural practices while promoting positive cultural values that respect human rights.
They insisted that government provides immediate psychosocial, medical and legal support to the survivor and her child.
They underscored that the safety, dignity and freedom of every woman and girl in Liberia must be guaranteed, noting that they will not relent in holding duty-bearers accountable to their national, regional, and international obligations.
The Feminist Coalition of Liberia is a gender-transformative conglomeration of five women-led institutions: WONGOSOL, Liberia Feminist Forum, Medica Liberia, Sisters for Sisters and Radical Young Women Initiatives, working together to amplify women’s voices, protect women and girls from violence, and advance gender equality in Liberia.
