MONROVIA – The Second Lady of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Stephine Dahn Koung, on Monday November 25,2024, launched the 16 days of Activism at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo town.
Mrs. Koung promised to work closely with stakeholders and CSOs, including local and national NGOs to eliminate violence against women and girls.
According to her, to end violence against women and girls, the government and stakeholders must prioritize economic empowerment, education and continuous awareness with men because they are the ones who perpetrate violence against women and girls.
For her part, Liberia’s Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie said, this year’s Global Theme: “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” reflects on the progress made since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action nearly three decades ago.
Minister Kollie emphasized the need to move from commitment to implementation, urging collective and actionable steps to eliminate violence worldwide, while Liberia’s national theme: “From Talk to Action! Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” underscores the urgency of transforming advocacy into concrete action.
She furthered that the theme highlights the necessity of transitioning from mere discussions to impactful measures that address the root causes of gender-based violence.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, gender-based violence remains a grave threat to the safety and dignity of women, girls, boys, and children across Liberia, as reflected in the 2023 and 2024 SGBV statistics,” she noted.
In 2023, a total of 3,204 SGBV cases were recorded, with women accounting for 93% of the survivors. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected, with rape accounting for 2,007 cases, sexual abuse for 398 cases, and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) for 791 cases.
Notably, in 2023, Grand Cape Mount County recorded the highest number of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) cases, with 193 incidents, followed by Montserrado and Lofa Counties, which reported 156 and 129 cases respectively. Montserrado County remains a hotspot for violence against women, girls, and vulnerable populations, accounting for 53% of all SGBV cases. Among these, rape (1,279 cases) and sexual assault (244 cases) are the most prevalent. Alarmingly, 66% of the survivors were under the age of 18, Minister Kollie explained.
“As we launch this campaign, I must highlight the critical challenge of ensuring justice for SGBV survivors, a matter that cannot be overstated.
“Therefore, the Government of Liberia, with support from the World Bank, has proposed a Legal Aid Bill aimed at providing prompt legal assistance to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence amongst others,” she said.
From January to October 2024, a total of 2,759 rape cases were reported, with Montserrado County once again recording the highest number at 1,902 cases, accounting for 68.7% of the total cases reported. Lofa, Margibi, Nimba, and Bong Counties followed with 218, 116, 109, and 106 cases, respectively.
Additionally, 264 cases of sexual assault were reported during this period. The statistics currently under analysis show worrisome numbers of other forms of violence against women, girls and children.
Minister Kollie narrated that these numbers are more than statistics; they are stark reminders of the urgency to act. The figures should ignite our collective hunger for immediate and decisive action, she stated.
“From strengthening legal mechanisms to providing robust social protections for survivors, we must double our efforts to eradicate gender-based violence from every corner of Liberia,” Minister Kollie said.
Speaking further, Minister Kollie noted that the Government of Liberia has made key in advancing efforts to end violence against women and girls. These achievements are reflected in the areas of Strengthening Coordination, Policy Development, Case Management Support, Capacity Building, Logistical Support, Facility Assessments, and Referral Pathway Enhancement.
“Additionally, we are proud to announce that the Ministry of Gender has reactivated its Legal Unit to assist in building evidence-based files of SGBV cases, ensuring that survivors receive adequate legal support and that perpetrators are held accountable.
“At this juncture, I am pleased to recognize the invaluable contribution of the Spotlight Initiative in the fight against SGBV in Liberia.
“This initiative, funded by the European Union, aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices, and has significantly advanced our progress in addressing these challenges. With profound gratitude, we eagerly anticipate the approval of the next phase, Spotlight Initiative 2.0, which will enable us to expand our efforts and achieve even greater milestones in this critical fight.
“To the European Union, words alone cannot adequately convey our gratitude as a nation for your unwavering support and partnership in this endeavor. Thank you
“As we amplify the call for collective action and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our partners, both local and international, I must reemphasize that the time for robust action is now. This campaign must penetrate every corner of Liberia, reaching churches, mosques, schools, intellectual centers, football fields, and rural communities with the same intensity and dedication we apply during political campaigns.
“In the coming days, the Ministry of Gender, in collaboration with partners, will embark on a series of proactive initiatives aimed at addressing existing gaps and mobilizing local communities, national leaders, policymakers, teachers, legal practitioners and the He For She movement to accelerate actionable approaches. These efforts will also include engaging men from all walks of life as part of the commemoration of International Men’s Day under the theme, “Positive Male Role Models.”
“These engagements seek to highlight the critical role of men in families and communities, challenge harmful stereotypes, and emphasize their vital contributions to ending violence against women and girls. Recognizing the pivotal role of the media, the Ministry, with support from partners, will organize intensive training sessions for media editors on responsible and sensitive SGBV reporting,” Minister Kollie stated emphatically.
She further informed that the sessions will aim to increase awareness, inspire community action, and advocate for policy changes that protect survivors and prevent future violence. Through these initiatives, we aim to enlighten and empower the media, men, communities and religious leaders as well as young women and girls to become strategic allies in reshaping public attitudes and accelerating our collective efforts to create a safer and more equitable society.
“Also in the coming days, the Ministry of Gender, with support from the Government and the World Bank, will reactivate an upgraded National GBV 116 Call Center. Once launched, the GBV 116 Call Center will serve as a vital platform to provide prompt support to victims of gender-based violence, sexual harassment, abuse, and other forms of GBV in Liberia.
“It will offer remote psychosocial counseling and ensure timely referrals of survivors to appropriate and available services across the country. The previously established GBV 116 Call Center was deactivated due to various challenges; however, with the invaluable support of our esteemed partners, those challenges have been effectively mitigated.
“As I close, I wish to commend the relentless efforts of the National SGBV Taskforce for their tireless work in addressing these issues. To our donor community and partners, we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support, which has been instrumental in Liberia’s fight against GBV,” the Gender Minister said.