By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA- Civil Society Organizations in Lofa County are calling on President George Weah to reissue a new Executive Order on Domestic Violence to replace Executive Order 92, which ended in January 2019.
In a position statement, the 15 CSOs indicated that the new executive order when issue will serve as temporary legal instrument to address domestic violence issues such as rape, female genital mutilation (FGM) and teenage pregnancy amongst others.
They want this to be done pending the passage of the domestic violence Act currently before the 54th Legislature, as pronounced by President Weah during has annual address on January 18, 2019.
They also want the Lawmakers of the 54th Legislature to fast-track proceedings leading to the passage of the domestic Violence Bill into Law.
According to the CSOs, this comes as a result of reports from the Liberia Demography Health Survey (LDHS) which shows that Maternal and Infant Mortality remains an alarming issue.
The report says each day in Liberia, 15 infants die at childbirth and 4 women of pregnancy related cases.
It also indicates that Liberia maternal mortality ratio stands at 1,027 out of every 100,000 live birth.
The LDHS revealed in 2013 fatality rate was 4.7%; urban fatality rate was 3.8%, compare to rural 6.1%.
LDHS reported in 2015 that 61% of pregnant women were assisted by skilled health providers while 39% by unskilled health providers; 565 of fatality birth was assisted by skilled health providers while 44% by unskilled health providers and teenage pregnancy is over 50%.
Rape and Sexual Violence against women are the most frequently reported crimes in Liberia according to the ministry of gender and the Liberia National Police Women and Children Protection Section.
In 2015, it was reported by the ministry of gender and the Liberia National Police Women and Children Protection Section that over 1,000 rape cases were recorded while LDHS revealed that female genital mutilation (FGM) is being practised in 8 of Liberia’s 15 counties and by 11 of the 16 tribes.
Representatives from the 15 CSOs disclosed that it is against the above alarming and unacceptable situations, Liberia’s development partners, civil society and the government of Liberia drafted and presented the Domestic Violence Act to the Legislature for enactment.
“We therefore applaud this bold step in the right direction to fostering goal 5 of the sustainable goals when pass into law and fully implemented,” they noted.
They said the Domestic Violence Act will serve as catalyst to the sustainable mitigation of harmful traditional practices, gender based violence and protection of sexual reproductive health rights.
The statement was developed and signed by representatives from the 15 Civil Society Organizations at the end of a three-day intensive capacity building on the Promotion of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practice.
It was organized by the Partnership for Sustainable Development (PASD).