A Liberian civil society organizations, Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has highlighted some relevant Pieces of information which she said were missing in President George Manneh Weah’s 5th State of the Nation Address delivered at the Joint Session of the national legislature on January 23, 2022 for his 5th State of Nation Address (SONA), delivered on January 24, 2022
WONGOSOL is a network of 104 organizations committed to ending violence against women and achieving gender equality in Liberia
In a press statement signed and issued by Madam Esther Davis Yango, Executive Director, the institution used the occasion to ask the Government to set clear targets for women candidates and Cabinet members, adding that the excellent opportunity for this administration is to publicly support the provision of a mandatory and enforceable 30% quota within the elections reform bill recently submitted in plenary at the House of Representatives.
It said that the year under review and previous years, Liberia experienced high rates of violence against women and girls, with sexual violence being highly reported while SGBV being the most underreported crime in Liberia and stressed that the true scope of this problem is almost unimaginable as reported cases represent just a fraction of the incidences. It also said Domestic violence, ritualistic killings, and other forms of violence were also high.
“Given that this issue is alarming and coupled with other negative effects on the lives of survivors, WONGOSOL is concerned that the President’s Address did not clearly highlight the Government’s plans to address the situation in the coming year”, the release said.
There is a high level of impunity, thus resulting in communities settling violence cases out of legal proceedings (settling the family way). The Secretariat is committed to ending violence against women and would like the President to share information on the Government’s plan to address such major issue.
In addition, the release said the year 2021 also witnessed what appeared to be a new dawn in the transitional justice process of Liberia where for the first time since the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) released its report in 2009, the Senate reviewed and advised the President to establish a “Transitional Justice Commission.” WONGOSOL said that throughout the SONA, there was no information on the commission’s findings and how the Government will address transitional justice in 2022.
“WONGOSOL believes that this is a piece of sad news for survivors and victims of war crimes. The Secretariat urges the President to take this issue seriously as survivors and victims are still living in trauma due to the war”, the statement noted.
The statement said that it is good to note that 2022 has the highest budget in the country’s history; however, it would be helpful to state how the average citizen will benefit from it.
The statement further said that the Secretariat is keen on the issues mentioned above and would encourage this administration to consider them as they are necessary to fulfill citizens’’ basic human rights and freedoms.
“WONGOSOL recognized the significance of coordination and collaboration and will continue to work closely with the Government and other partners to advance and promote women and girls’ rights in Liberia.
“Throughout the SONA, there is no information on the commission’s findings and how the Government will address transitional justice in 2022. WONGOSOL believes that this is a piece of sad news for survivors and victims of war crimes.
“The Secretariat urges the President to take this issue seriously as survivors and victims are still living in trauma due to the war”, the statement said
The organization also said that it is keen on the issues raised in the statement and would encourage this administration to consider them as they are necessary to fulfill citizens’’ basic human rights and freedoms.
“WONGOSOL also used the occasion to commend the President for committing to “support openness” for women’s participation in decision-making, especially electoral processes. However, it would have been good to mention the Government’s strategy to increase women’s representation in its Government, which currently has 19 cabinet ministers, of which only 5 are females, and in the Legislature, which has only 11 women amongst 92 men”, the statement concluded.
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