Anti-Rape Fighters’ Final Resolve •73 Stern Proposals Submitted to GOL •Declaring State of Emergency on Top

Following the two-day  Anti-SGBV National Conference held 8-9 September 2020 under the theme: “A National Call to Action: Inclusive Involvement to Flag Rape/ SGBV in Liberia” to discuss openly and contribute collectively to the end of rape and other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Liberia, thus serving as a validation of  the “Government of Liberia & Partners” Roadmap on Ending  SGBV 2020-2022”, participants unanimously resolved, among 73 proposals, to declare a national emergency on rape.

According to the Communique derived from the validated recommendations of four breakup groups comprising Community Intervention & Engagement, Health Implications, Amendment Proposals to the Existing SGBV Laws and New Inserts into the Laws, and Strengthening coordination on Data Collection and Reporting, the conference participants also called for continuous community engagement with faith-based leaders in communities; relaunch of the He/ She Campaign for effectiveness; the conduct of parental workshops at community leaves (family status-quo).

Recognizing the need to nip rape and SGBV crimes from the foundational roots, the participants resolved also that prevention of sexual violence must be taught at all levels of education/institution, and in addition, teachers need to be trained.

Among others, the Communique also recommended the conduct of a survey on risk assessment in community (perpetrator); the conduct of SGBV training for police officer, to ensure that unnecessary question by police are prohibited to avoid the victimization of survivors; the decentralize of the child welfare committee in all communities for mass awareness; the establishment of SGBV clubs in all institution of learning and that children are taught the lesson of RAPE/SGBV; the creation of space for perpetrators to be rehabilitated; and the creation of pictorial tool on SGBV for children.

Additionally, the participants recommended the decentralization of girl conference into communities annually and in traditional spaces and locals; the establishment of “Touch One Touch All Campaign” to ensure robust community involvement; the provision of direct access to information on the Domestic Violence Act and Rape Law through one-one-one, simplified versions and vernaculars modalities; the conduct of regular monthly town hall engagement with woman, parents, Community  Based Organization, Faith- based Organization and churches; as well as the provision of financial support and protection for parents.

The Communique further recommended the prohibition of drugs and alcohol usage, particularly amongst the young people including school-going-kid; the conduct of awareness on misuse of identifying survivors as “victims”; the treatment of survivors with respect and dignity; the erection of billboards, designing of jingles and dramas to spread awareness on rape/SGBV; the development of standardized reporting template and system in all school to report on rape/SGBV cases; the prohibition of trial by ordeal, and the provision of economic empowerment for survivors.

The complete list of validated recommendations is captured below.

COMMUNIQUÉ

OF THE

2020 ANTI-SGBV NATIONAL CONFERENCE

 Under the

Theme: “A National Call to Action: Inclusive Involvement to Flag Rape/ SGBV in Liberia” 

September 8-9, 2020

The Grand theatre, Ministerial Complex

Monrovia, Liberia

We the people of the Republic of Liberia, represented by the undersigned do acknowledge that the 2002 Anti-SGBV National Conference has been under the theme: “A National Call to Action: Inclusive Involvement to Flag Rape/ SGBV in Liberia” from September 8-9 at the Grand Theatre of the Ministerial complex in Monrovia, Liberia;

Whereas this conference aimed to rally all SGBV Stakeholder to discuss openly and contribute collectively to the end of rape and other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Liberia, thus serving as a validation of  the “Government of Liberia & Partners” Roadmap on Ending  SGBV 2020-2022”;

We do hereby acknowledge that recommendation from the established four (4) breakup groups (Community Intervention & Engagement, Health Implications, Amendment Proposals to the Existing SGBV Laws and New Inserts into the Laws, and Strengthening coordination on Data Collection and Reporting) contacting herein are addendum to the “Government of Liberia & partners’ Roadmap on Ending SGBV 2020-2022”;

In view thereof, we have unanimously agreed that the “Government of Liberia & partners Roadmap on Ending SGBV 2020-2022” is hereby validated in addition to the recommendation of the established Four (4) breakup group and shall be considered as a working tool for the period specified therein;

And that, we hereby consider the action contained therein to be key action areas for implementation within the short, medium and long term as may be classified by the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on SGBV, and as classified to wit;

1. Declare national emergency on rape;
2. Continuous community engagement with faith-based leaders in communities;
3. Relaunch the He/ She Campaign for effectiveness;
4. Conduct parental workshops at community leaves (family status-quo);
5. That prevention of sexual violence it taught at all leaves of education/institution, in addition teachers need to be trained;
6. Conduct a survey on risk assessment in community (perpetrator);
7. Conduct SGBV training for police officer, as ensure that unnecessary question by police are prohibited to avoid the victimization of survivors;
8. Decentralize the child welfare committee in all communities for mass awareness
9. Establish SGBV club in all institution of learning and that children are taught the lesson of RAPE/SGBV;
10. Create space for perpetrators to be rehabilitated;
11. Create pictorial tool on SGBV for children;
12. Decentralize girl conference into communities annually and in traditional spaces and locals;
13. Establish “Touch One Touch All Campaign” to ensure robust community involvement;
14. Ensure the availability of direct access to information on the Domestic Violence Act and Rape Law through one-one-one, simplified versions and vernaculars modalities;
15. Conduct regular monthly town hall engagement with woman, parents, Community Based Organization, Faith- based Organization and churches;
16. Ensure the provision of financial support and protection for parents. Victims to mitigate compromise;
17. Prohibit the use of drugs and alcohol, particularly amongst the young people including school-going-kid;
18. Conduct awareness on misuse of identifying survivors as “victims”;
19. Survivors should be treated with respect and dignity;
20. Build of billboards, jingles and dramas to spread awareness on rape/SGBV
21. Develop standardized reporting template and system in all school to report on rape/SGBV cases;
22. Prohibit trial by ordeal;
23. Provide economic empowerment for survivors;
24. Train licensed health practitioner to handle SGBV cases;
25. Conduct assessment and mapping of existing structures;
26. Conduct capacity building for SGBV observatories, community water forum, Child welfare committee woman and COBs, etc.;
27. Link community based structures to referral pathway;
28. Conduct join review session to standardized TORs related to SGBV for CBOs, and provide incentives (stationary, communication, etc.
29. Incorporate and like active case finder into community structures;
30. Decentralize district hotlines (SGBV prevention);
31. Increase training that includes minority groups (PLWDs);
32. Train media practitioners and ensure code of conduct for reporting GBV cases;
33. Deal with accomplices at community level;
34. Integrate SGBV awareness and response into the curriculum of pre-service health training institution;
35. Disseminate existing guideline and SOPs to include confidentiality and client protection at all health facilities to support survivors, particularly in non-One Stop Centers health facilities;
36. Strengthen psychosocial support / trauma counseling and medical services for survivors and families at al health center;
37. Design and implement psychosocial support for SGBV care givers;
38. Strengthen community mental health programs address trauma and risky health behaviors
39. Establish mechanism to effectively investigate and address allegation of corrupt practices in the health section and ensure that required services to victims of SGBV be given;
40. That Health Center run 24/7, as most facilities remain closed during weekend;
41. OSCs should be inclusive to consider other minority group, including PLWD,;
42. Prison needed for all, not exclusively for SGBV perpetrators;
43. Incorporate rehabilitation for prisoners;
44. Address prison over-crowdedness and general condition of prisons;
45. Institute prison for juvenile;
46. Include within the police academy training manual access to justice for woman and girl and SGBV related issues;
47. Conduct vigorous awareness, in-service training and refresher training on SGBV;
48. Recruit more WACPS/LIP Officers;
49. Special Training for WACPS officer (Forensic Investigation);
50. Institutionalize the extension of the grand jury sitting and adequately support Criminal court E, including provision of mobile courts and /or have priority of rape cases;
51. Increase Grand Jury sitting or throughout the year;
52. Remove the FGM ritual and ensure the monitoring of the sand bush are functioning in line with the law or police;
53. Conduct technical working session on the rape law to include key action;
54. Ensure international best practices are apply relating to the harmonization and amendment of law in line with international protocols and other treaties;
55. National registry of all Citizens and ensure that all students have national identification cards and are enforced in school;
56. Revision of the children’s Law to include penalty for those who violate right to privacy;
57. National Police on PSEA- (Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) needs to be amended as a Law;
58. Ensure mandatory protection for victim of survivors through the law insertion;
59. Executive Clemency should not cover rapist in prison
60. Revision of the law to protect victims’ privacy as health workers tend to back doctor/patient confidentiality;
61. Conduct a technical working group meeting to begin the amendment of law process;
62. Strengthen and operationalize SGBV taskforce at the National and County level;
63. Train and strengthen COS/ community based structures and other service providers (Case Finders)
64. Set up SGBV structures in school (Club and Officers);
65. Provide training to educational officers of data collection and reporting;
66. Develop software (mobile app)to collect SGBV data in school;
67. Host technical re-validation of the existing IMS for data collection;
68. Decentralize data collection and reporting;
69. Develop an integrated dashboard for reporting;
70. Strengthen information sharing around data with relevant agencies and the public including media,
71. Conduct periodic research on SGBV with a minimum of every two years;
72. Map all SGBV action;
73. Develop clear indictors to measure SGBV outcomes.