PHOTO: Elderly woman victim of torture nursing her wounds
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Women continue to suffer violence and abuse in Southeastern Liberia and other parts of this West African country, with several of them losing their lives in recent years.
As Liberia joins other countries around the world in celebrating International women’s day on Monday, March 8, 2021, reports have now emerged of an elderly woman, age 74 being allegedly been beaten severely, with her leg broken three times over witchcraft accusation.
The incident, which amounts to serious rights abuse and torture under domestic and international rights conventions, reportedly occurred in Putu administrative District, Grand Gedeh County on February 22, 2021. But the information was said to have been concealed by some community members.
According to reports gathered, Rachel Walloh was severely beaten and totally went out of strength by six men in the area.
Since her abuse and humiliation by the men in question, the old lady has been suffering from serious medical complications and her condition is said to have worsen since then.
The reports further say that some women group in the county charter a commercial vehicle and took the victim to the Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital in Zwedru for medical treatment but condition seems to be unstable.
Local women’s groups in the area are said to be enrage about the maltreatment of the elderly woman and the general manner in which women in the area have been abused on allegations of being involved in witchcraft and other alleged act.
And the women’s groups are calling on the national government to immediately bring justice for the latest victim of such act.
Also, a local human rights coordinator in Grand Gedeh, Mr. Alex Yonley has strongly condemned the constant violence meted out against women in the Southeastern region of Liberia.
Mr. Yonley, Coordinator of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County says this is unacceptable.
The local human rights coordinator along with the Liberia National Police over the weekend swiftly intervened in collaboration with other women groups to bring the victim to Martha Tubman memorial hospital over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the local human rights coordinator has expressed sadness over the form and manner in which women and girls have been maltreatment, whenever they are accused of being engaged in witchcraft.
But one may wonder how those individuals who are in the constant habit of meting out violence against women they determine as witches.
As the saying goes, only witchcraft knows their friends witches.
Meanwhile, the local human rights coordinator in Grand Gedeh County is recommending to the Liberian government and other International partners to engage in creating greater awareness among citizens in their respective communities, towns and village as means of curtailing such acts.