-But AFELL welcomes government’s move
By Mark N.Mengonfia, mmenginfia@gmail.com
Ever since new revelations were made of the scale of a sex abuse and exploitation scandal at the “More Than Me” (MTM) Academy run by an American NGO in Monrovia, alarm bells have been ringing both nationally and internationally.
Amidst the international reporting by two American media outlets—TIME magazine and ProPublica– the Liberian government says it has now launched an investigation into the sex abuse scandal.
The investigation provided graphic details of the extent of sexual abuse and exploitation meted out against some girls by an male official of the school who was fiancée to the American Director Katie Meyler.
According to the investigation, his assaults went on for years and continued in the new school. He was protected by his position — he was presented as “co-founder” of MTM; he and Meyler had had an intimate relationship, and she kept him in place even after having reason to suspect his predilections. But he was also shielded from exposure in the community by everything that she had brought: a school, scholarships and, above all, hope.
After his crimes became known, filling hundreds of pages of police and legal records, the charity worked to obscure the details and to place responsibility almost anywhere but with Meyler or MTM: Liberia’s culture was blamed.
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has been vocal about the situation and has raised serious concern.
In a statement, the institution said “AFELL learned with grave concern and dismay of the now topical issue of alleged sexual assault and abuse of young girls of the More Than Me Academy some four years ago.”
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia says while it welcomes the Liberia government’s action to launch an investigation into sex abuse and exploitation scandal, this action is belated.
The press statement signed by AFELL’s President, Atty. Vivian D. Neal said: “we are encouraged by the Government’s action of launching an investigation into the said scandal, however belated.”
Atty. Neal said that the AFELL looks forward to the outcome of the belated investigation and hopes that anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law for this alleged abuse and betrayal of the trust and confidence of the victims.