By Mark N. Mengonfia
The president of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), Vivian D. Neal has stressed the need to instill moral values in kids, something she said will help minimize violence in the Liberian society.
Atty. Vivian D. Neal said: said “Violence in our society has become a serious issue, especially violence against women and children which is growing at an alarming rate.”
Speaking recently at the induction of officers of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Jauh Sarwee Memorial Welfare Institute, the prominent female lawyer said little boys and girls in Liberia are being raped on a daily basis.
This, she said can be prevented with the provision of good moral values to kids who have now grown into men and women.
According to her, because of the lack of morals in the society, children and women are also being raped in every part of the country.
“Cases of domestic violence are being reported as our legal Aid Clinics in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, and other parts of Liberia,” the AFELL President added.
She indicated that in some homes, the parents are always fighting, using profane languages and children are being abused stressing that the chances of children growing to be decent men and women in those homes will be almost impossible.
Additionally, Atty. Neal said in schools where moral values are not taught along with academics, the likelihood of children growing to be decent men and women from such schools are very slim.
She also spoke of the importance of PTAs, indicating that the parents, teachers and the school administration are stakeholders to ensuring that violence is minimized, and if possible eradicated from the main steam of decent living.
“The questions we need to ask ourselves, are we effectively instilling those moral values in the lives of our children and the student, are we living exemplary lives for our children to see and follow?” the President of AFELL asked.
“As parents and teachers we must live an exemplary life that our children or students can emulate,” Cllr. Neal said.
According to her, the positive role PTAs play in the lives of kids would help to make the society a better place to live.