By Mafanta Kromah
Monrovia, Liberia – ActionAid Liberia in collaboration of the Liberia Feminism Forum and other organizations under the name “Unprotected” began the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with, We are Unprotected sit-in and rally.
The sit-in brought many permanent women together to protest against all forms of violence perpetrated against women, girls and children. The sit-in action told place on November 26, 2018 at Fish Market, Old Road, Monrovia.
According to Caroline Bowah of the Liberia Feminist Forum, violence against women and girls has become prevalent and normal in their Liberian society even though there are several declarations against Gender-based violence.
According to the ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection 2017 GBV report, 892 sexual and gender-based violence cases were reported, and almost 70 percent of that figure is said to be accounted for sexual violence including rape.
According to MOG, there were 1,484 cases of GBV reported, of this figure, rape constitutes 971 and 877 of these cases were perpetrated against girls below the age of 18. Rape is said to be one of the most reported crime in Liberia. there is no age limit in the act of rape in Liberia, babies as young as five, six months are raped.
However, according to Bowah, due to stigma and discrimination and also ineffective system that frustrate victims, many do not find the courage to report rape cases. The blame this on the poor health facilities to provide care, weak justice system to provide justices, low capacity of police to get on time and the failure of health and court officials who have the responsibility to respond to SGBV cases.
Caroline Bowah of the Feminist Forum
“As the result of these, many women and girls have died while others continue to live with the emotional scars,” she stressed.
The psychological consequences of rape and other forms of violence, which causes depression jeopardizes women wellbeing. Bowah explained that the effects of violence range from feelings of shame and guilt, anxiousness, phobia, insomnia to posttraumatic stress syndrome and social withdrawal and others.
“The social impact is equally devastating: survivors are often blame, stigmatized, and thus become more vulnerable to further acts of violence. Some adverse affects of sexual reproduction consequences including teenage pregnancy which restricts their access to education for example leading to drop out. This would further affect opportunity for women and her contribution to national development. The cycle of violence is a continuum of the denial of rights, dignity and humanity of women,” he asserted.
She also called to take action against GBV and reminds the government of many rape cases that has not receive justice. She emphasized on the late Ma Norwai Floma, a market woman who is said to have been murdered in1998, the travesty of justice of the late angel Tokpa case, the 12 women who were publicly humiliated in 2013 and accused of witchcraft, former Equip Country Director who allegedly rape a 13 years old child and was release on medical bill and the 13 years old who was allegedly rape by her uncle who was a lawmaker in 2017.
At the same time, Yah V. Parwon, the Advocacy Officer of Medical Liberia said they sit-in action is to observed the start of the 16 days of activism and to raise awareness on sexual and gender-based violence.
“It is a call to action to our government to tell that we are tire and we need to be protected at work place, school ground, market places and in the street,” she said.