PHOTO: One of the scenes at the occasion in question
The Liberian Sexual and Gender Based Violence Group has described as reckless, shocking and disturbing to see senior government officials tapping the buttocks of entertainers at a recent public gathering .
In a press statement issue in Monrovia, the group reference Representative Thomas Falah and Finance Minister Samuel Tweah who were seeing publicly in such acts.
“It was shocking and disturbing to see Representative Thomas Fallah get up and slap the bottom of one of the women dancers. As with the herd mentality, Minister Samuel Tweah quickly followed suit and added his palm print to that of the Representative,” the group noted.
The SGBV/GBV group recalled that the incident happened on Thursday, June 18, 2020, when community members and government officials gathered to commemorate the continuation of the program marking the Official Groundbreaking for the Reconstruction of Homes for Doe Community – Gbehkugbeh Avenue.
It said, “Whether or not the woman gave consent is not the issue here. Given the high increase of sexual violence and degrading attitudes in the country, we expect our government officials to exhibit a higher standard and model behavior that is respectful and empowering of everyone.”
The group also said Jervis Witherspoon, Chief of Protocol should have also made the officials aware of proper decorum and protocol as many officials seem to be oblivious to the perception that this kind of behavior carries.
According to them if Liberian officials behave in such manner what then can be expected of ordinary citizens the questioned. “Would this have been acceptable if officials from other countries were present? Would they have done this to wives, sisters, or relatives of those closest to them?”
The group also wants leaders to be respectful and teach their kids good moral conducts, Be respectful of women, Exercise restraint, and Keep their hands to themselves.
“Chauvinistic and sexual behavior should not spill on to our national platform. We reiterate, led by example and let those examples be ones that can be emulated for the upliftment of the country,” the group concluded.