By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia –In the wake of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, MenEngage Liberia has done its official launch of activities to buttress the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence across this West African state.
This date coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, and the campaign will continue until December 10th, aligning with International Human Rights Day.
The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism is “Towards Beijing+30: UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” while the national focus is articulated as, “From Talk to Action! Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls to Achieve Beijing+30.”
Violence against women and girls remains a pressing issue, affecting all segments of society according to a statement from the group.
The campaign commemorates the historic commitment made by world leaders at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, which raised global awareness of gender-based violence and established key priority actions to advocate for women’s rights and equality.
As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Call to Action approaches, MenEngage Liberia, in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, is spearheading initiatives to engage men and boys in efforts to end violence against women and girls as well as support other vulnerable groups.
MenEngage Liberia emphasizes that male involvement is critical in addressing and combating violence in all its forms.
In the statement, the Coordinator of MenEngage Liberia Francis S. Konyon expressed appreciation for the strides that the Liberian government has taken to combat violence against women and girls, including the establishment of the SGBV Roadmap of 2021-2022, appointing over 25% of women to ministerial and leadership roles, and creating dedicated courts for gender-based violence cases.
However, Francis S. Konyon noted how disturbing it is that to date, violence persists, highlighting a recent report from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection showing 194 cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including 119 rapes, many involving survivors aged as young as 0 to 17.
MenEngage Liberia Coordinator is calling on the government to prioritize male engagement and address male mental health issues starting at the community and school levels, as violence often emerges as a misguided response to personal mental health challenges.
In a powerful appeal, MenEngage Liberia urged all men to reflect on their conduct and to actively distance themselves from any form of violence, reinforcing the campaign’s ultimate goal of fostering a safer environment for women and girls across Liberia.
MenEngage Liberia was formed in August 2017. It is a network of NGOs that advocate gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, sexual and reproductive health and Rights (SRHR), child rights, and HIV/AIDS and STIs awareness on prevention and control.
MenEngage Liberia is a network of 15 Civil Society Organizations, including faith-based institutions, hosted by the Center for Justice and Peace Studies (CJPS).
MenEngage Liberia is part of 22 networks of MenEngage Africa Alliance, a member of the Global MenEngage Alliance of non-governmental organizations and the United Nations (UN) agencies established in 2006 to engage men and boys to achieve gender equality, prevent HIV and AIDS; promote human rights and reduce violence at all levels across the continent of Africa, and question structural barriers to gender inequalities.