MONROVIA, Montserrado – Six international organizations working in Liberia have expressed support of solidarity for the anti-rape campaign currently ongoing in the country. The organizations include the International Rescue Committee, Kvinna till Kvinna, Oxfam, Plan International, ActionAid, and medica Liberia.
The organizations announced their support following a three-day street protest last week in Monrovia that was organized by a group of women and feminist organizations, human rights activists, and youth organizations collaborating under the umbrella of the Affiliation of Women and Child Rights Advocates. The protesters were demanding the government to declare rape a national emergency.
In a joint statement issued in Monrovia, the organizations said they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and echo their calls for access to protection, justice, and life-saving services.
“We stand in solidarity with feminists, women’s rights organizations and youth groups who have been calling for an end to rape, rape culture, impunity for rape and other forms of SGBV between August 25 and 27. We wholeheartedly support their democratic rights to speech and peaceful assembly free from intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and unlawful detention,” the organizations expressed in the statement.
“While recent statistics are alarming, SGBV is the most underreported crime globally and here in Liberia – with estimated instances being much higher than reported. We are also aware that reporting is down due to a number of COVID-19 related factors.”
The statement disclosed that restrictions on movement, decrease in community engagement to prevent and respond to SGBV, and fear of visiting health centers for fear of contracting COVID-19 has likely kept some survivors from reporting.
“Given an estimated 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, the scale of this crisis is actually much bigger than it appears,” the groups said. According to the organizations, SGBV – specifically violence against women and girls – is the most persistent and prevalent human rights violation in Liberia. It is a national emergency.
“We note the very low rate of prosecution of SGBV cases within the judicial system and call for the strengthening of the system to increase access to justice and support services for women and girls.”
The groups welcomed the move by the government to develop a comprehensive road map aimed at addressing the challenges that impede the realization of the rights of women and girls in the country. They also hope that adequate and urgent investment will be made to implement the recommendations outlined in the road map.
The European Union and four of its member states represented in Liberia, Germany, France, Ireland, and Sweden also recently issued a joint statement stressing the importance of combatting sexual and gender-based violence in the country.
According to the statement, the E.U. shares the deep concern expressed by the government and people of Liberia regarding the alarming rates of sexual and gender-based violence.
“The E.U. takes note of the recent, deep public engagement on this important issue, including demonstrations on the streets of Monrovia. Likewise, the E.U. recognizes the initiative taken by H.E. President George Weah and his government to find ways to address this profound problem,” the statement read.
On Monday, the U.S. Embassy also issued its statement of support. In it, the embassy outlined measures U.S. government-supported programs have been taking to fight sexual violence. Those included a USAID project in Margibi for victims of sexual violence to call or text a platform to receive referrals to support services and to advise the Liberian National Police on how to effectively investigate sexual violence cases.
Featured photo by Jefferson Krua
