Gender Ministry Says “Urgent And Sustained National Action” Needed
By Our Staff Writer
Ahead of the ongoing 16 Days annual Activism Against Gender Based Violence, Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection released data reflecting a rise in rape and gender based violence (SGBV) cases in this West African country.
Back in 1991, the if the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence was initiated by the First Women’s Global Leadership Institute. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2025
Rape is continuing to top the chart, with rape making up 2,759 of the total number of 3,957 GBV cases recorded last year, 2024.
“The Ministry’s Annual GBV Report of 2024 highlights a total of (3,957) 3,591 cases of gender-based violence recorded, with rape alone constituting 2,759 cases. Out of the number of cases reported in 2024, women were the most victims at 3,554 while men at 37,” the report said.
From 2023 to 2024, 753 more SGBV cases added to the chart, when the number of cases rose from 3, 204 in 2023 to 3, 957 in 2024. data on liberia’s sgbc cases in 2023 – Search
Already, there are indicators that the data for this year, 2025 might not even be encouraging.
“The first, second and third quarters of 2025 have already seen 1,735 rape cases reported, indicating 56%, Physical Assault, 824 cases constituting 26%, Domestic Violence 339 cases, 11%, 7 FGM cases and 6 Sodomy cases,” said the Gender Ministry’s report released ahead of the start of this year’s 16 days Activism.
Despite the dismal statistics, Gender Ministry authorities boast of “progress made” in fighting the rising tide of rape and other gender-based violence cases across Liberia.
“Members of the Media, it is important to highlight that Liberia has made significant progress in addressing violence against women and girls through the coordinated efforts of the Government,” one of the Deputy Ministers at the Ministry, Atty. Laura Golakeh told a news conference.
Here are some of their achievements highlighted:
“Key achievements include the review and validation of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Management of GBV (2018–2023), which now paves the way for the development of a new National Action Plan on GBV.
- We have also reactivated the National GBV 116 Call Center, provided refresher training for call operators and County Gender Coordinators,
- and reviewed the SGBV Referral Pathway to improve our national response systems. Additionally, cash management funds have been allocated to County Coordinators to ensure timely interventions in GBV cases, while coordination of GBV Taskforces has been reinforced across all 15 counties.”
During a local popular early morning radio talk show on OK FM early this week, callers and the presenter said the Gender Ministry is trying to scale down this menace but could do more by engaging in more robust actions with communities to prevent the high rate of SGBV cases.
Some social commentators also say validating a National Action Plan is good but implementation of such plan/policy on paper remains the biggest challenge in Liberian public institutions, not only in this sector.
As it is often said in Liberia, “the problem is us”, referring to attitudes and lack of respect for regulations, policies and law and authorities’ failure to follow through in robust implementation of set policies.
Speaking about “deep-seated challenges rooted Despite the progress made, Liberia continues to grapple with rooted in patriarchy, harmful traditional practices, poverty, limited access to education, and the lingering
effects of past conflicts,” the Gender Ministry acknowledges “systemic barriers”.
“These systemic barriers,” the Ministry says, “have created conditions in which women, girls, and other vulnerable groups remain disproportionately exposed to violence.”
It cannot be overstated how the fight against SGBV certainly requires all hand on deck and that the entire public (males and females alike) must get on board and take owner of the ant-SGBV fight to save this nation’s future.
Just a look at the latest data from the Gender Ministry tells one how grave this task is going forward, as sodomizing of little boys appears to be becoming the order of the day, with media reports from Liberia’s western Grand Cape Mount County this week speaking about an alleged rape of an 8-year-old boy. And the perpetrator remains unknown and is at large.
“Montserrado County topped the chart with 2,143 reported GBV cases of which 1,902 were rape cases; followed by Lofa County 313, and rape cases reported 218. Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa
counties reported 196, 165 and 156 GBV cases respectively. Persistent Non-support recorded 277 cases, Physical Assault 266 cases, Sexual Assault 264 cases and Emotional Abuse 25 cases.
I like to emphasize that in 2024, Statutory Rape (<18) recorded the highest number of rape cases reported 1,485.
The first, second and third quarters of 2025 have already seen 1,735 rape cases reported, indicating 56%, Physical Assault, 824 cases constituting 26%, Domestic Violence 339 cases, 11%, 7 FGM cases and 6 Sodomy cases.”