By Tokpa Tarnue, tarnue822@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia– A group of women in Liberia’s northwestern Lofa County has begun a campaign calling on the Liberian government to establish a special fast track court to deal with the issue of rape and other cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Under the banner “Concerned Lofa Women in the Fight against Rape, the group said the establishment of such a court by government will help save the future of their beloved children and that of the entire society.
About 80-85 percent of Gender Based Violence and sexual abuse cases in Lofa County are said gruesomely be perpetrated by men.
Delivering a position statement to the government of Liberia through the office of the Lofa County Superintendent in the provincial capital, Voinjama, the head of the concern women Pendoral C.W. Zayzay disclosed that their peaceful match through the streets on voinjama was as a result of the increase in rape and other violence perpetrated against women and girls in the county.
She named the raping of a 7 year old child in Salayea district by a 21 year old man, the prison Jail break few years back that led to the escape of both perpetrators and convicts of rape.
A number of incidents were cited including the attempted rape case in the Kintoma community where the perpetrator has been released; the recent case at the Zoezoe creek community in Voinjama involving an 8-year-old child who is currently undergoing serious medical treatment at the Tellewoyan Hospital.
The alleged perpetrator of this case is still at large as few of the rape cases of interest in the county.
Madam Zayzay further cited the woman, age 21, who was beheaded in Zelemai and the 28-year-old breastfeeding mother who was murdered by her husband in Yeala amongst others as some recent violence cases perpetrated against women of Lofa County.
As such, she said if government is to get the admiration of its citizens, it needs to consider the issue of rape as public enemy number one.
“We also want to use this time to call on parents to see their girl’s children as precious Jewries and thereby provide them the necessary care, protection and guidance against rape which is a state enemy and not to compromised rape cases,” Mrs. Zayzay added.
Receiving the position statement from the Concerned Lofa Women on behalf of the County’s Superintendent, the Assistant Superintendent for Development, Samuel Mulbah condemned the act of violence being perpetrated against the women and girls of Lofa and Liberia at large.
Assistant Lofa County Superintendent for Development, Samuel Mulbah
According to Mr. Mulbah, the statement from the Concerned Lofa Women will not be taken lightly.
“We will ensure that your position statement will be presented to Superintendent William Tamba Kamba for onward submission to the government for our Internal Affairs Minister,” Assistant Superintendent Mulbah indicated.
He said the office of the superintendent will also engage other relevant stakeholders in Lofa in assuring those perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence against women and girls across the county are dealt with speedily.
Recently, the Lofa County HE for SHE Crusader Task For embarked on a massive awareness program to ensure a safe environment for the growth and development of women, girls and children who are often victimized in GBV/SGBV in Lofa County.
The HE for SHE Task Force comprises civil society organizations, prominent citizens, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and other Human rights actors in the Lofa County who are combing efforts to fight against SGBV.
Speaking at the start of the outreach activities in Voinjama, the Coordinator for Lofa County HE for SHE Crusader Task Force, Mr. Boakai Yamah said about 80-85 percent of Gender Based Violence and Sexual abuse cases are gruesomely being perpetrated by men.
Mr. Yamah called on government, religious, traditional leaders and the ordinary citizens to work in ensuring that the gruesome acts perpetrated against women, girls and children are brought to an end in Lofa County.