PHOTO: Neils Scott, UN official in Liberia
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, Neils Scott has recommitted his organization’s effort to supporting the Liberian government in the fight against gender based violence (GBV) in the different institutions.
“So I stand here before you today to recommit United Nations effort to support the government of Liberia in the fight against gender based violence in schools, rape, domestic violence, child marriages, and female genital mutilation violence against women and girls, boys and men anywhere and everywhere is a basic human right and each of us have such right,” Mr. Scott asserted.
The UN official was speaking during the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence 2021 held on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at the BWI Sports stadium in Kakata City, Margibi County, 55 kilometers east of Monrovia.
The program brought together youth groups, women groups, National and International NGOs, International Partners as well as Government Officials and Students amongst others. The event was celebrated under the theme: “Enough is enough! Let’s act now to end violence against women, girls, child and other marginalized groups”.
Mr. Scott disclosed that the United Nations will continue to provide support and work with partners to end all forms of violence in Liberia.
He added that there is a need for all to amplify their voices in ensuring that women and girls, boys and men are strongly protected from the various forms of violence that continue to creep into the society.
The UN Resident Coordinator said gains have been made in ending violence against women and girls in Liberia, but a lot more needs to be done.
He stated that in 2020, the number of cases of gender based violence increased alarmingly.
“According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, there were 2,240 cases of gender based violence that was reported last year; two thousand two hundred and forty cases too many,” he added.
According to the UN Resident Coordinator, he knows that rape was declared a national emergency in 2020 pointing out that it is because the civil society, women and girls amongst others amplified their voices as to what needed to be done and ‘President George Manneh Weah heard them and took a step.
He said there is a need for a call to action and to strengthen prevention of violence as well as making sure they are able to change the relations which exist in the society, business, and the households; redefining them to put women and girls in an equal position and not a vulnerable position within families, communities and institutions.
He added that there is a need to have a system that will respond to the regret of cases when they happened.
“We need something to be done about the violence that we know occurs, this will bring all of us together and we know that we can do it, we know that we always.
To all those people in the community who may feel that they have being left behind, they may feel no voice, but they have a voice; they have our voice,” Mr. Scott added.
He said everyone needs to understand that people living with disabilities and rural women who live in the hard to reach areas feel very absoluted at times stating that they need to know that there are people to speak, support and encourage them to speak out.
“With these efforts, it is with confidence that I stand here before you today knowing that together we can achieve this goal, we can turn it around, we can have peaceful gallantry society, we can have peaceful gallantry in school in which boys and girls can achieve their full potential,” said the UN official.
Mr. Scott concluded with a quote from UN Secretary General, António Guterres that says, “every woman and every girl has the right to a life free of violence.”
For his part, the Acting Minister at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hassan A. Karneh admonished Liberians to not shelter those who perpetrate violence against women and children.
Acting Minister Karneh said that there should be no impunity, condoning, settlement, compromise and excuses regarding gender based violence.
“Enough is enough, no girl, no woman; no child, no one should live or grow in a World that is threatened by violence,” the Gender Ministry official asserted.
He described the16 Days of Activism as a wonderful thing that brings to global attention violence against women and children as well as raging discrimination against women and girls which many are working hard to end.
Acting Minister Karneh indicated that the 16 Days of Activism is explicitly linked to women right and human right noting that preventing and responding to gender based violence is one of the most important government’s commitments to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and enabling women and girls’ rights.
According to him, it provides opportunity to advocate against and raise awareness about gender based violence and re-enforce the voices of women who have refused to be silent.
Despite consolidated efforts to tackle the problem, gender based violence is said to still be a major threat to society and security of women as well as girls and boys across Liberia.
The Acting Gender Minister explained that gender based violence is not inevitable, but must be prevented, indicating that stopping gender based violence must start with believing survivor which is a comprehensive, inclusive approaches and tackle the root cause, transform harmful social norms and empower women and girls with survivor sector essential services across the policy, justice, health, social sector and sufficient financing for women’s right agenda which can end gender based violence.
According to him, mothers, fathers and guardians have the first responsibility in the homes to protect their children.
The acting Gender Minister also charged teachers in the classrooms as well as those in the churches, the mosques and in the various homes with the responsibility to spread the message to end violence against women and children as well as the marginalized groups.
Mr. Karneh lauded the gathering especially those who led and coordinated the effort towards ensuring women and girls live their lives free from harm and violence.