Liberia’s former Vice President Joseph Boakai called on GOL to declare Rape as a National Emergency.
In 2019, the Domestic Violence Act was signed into law; the President thereafter declared Rape a National Emergency, and the National Road Map was carved in collaboration with civil society organizations Amb. Boakai said.
Amb. Boakai noted that with these pronouncements and policy documents, rape continues to increase while perpetrators go with impunity. He called on the Weah government to take charge and be intentional and truthful about its declaration of Rape as a National Emergency.
“Today, I have come once more, joining the women of Liberia and advocates against Gender-based violence, to call the attention of the Government of Liberia to the very alarming increase in the rate of sexual gender-based violence”, Amb. Boakai alarmed.
In 2021, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection reported Thousand Six Hundred Thirty-Seven cases, of this number, 56% were reports of sexual violence and 50% were child survivors with Montserrado County accounting for the majority. We were also informed that of the rape cases reported, indictments were drawn for 6.23% of the cases, 3.60% of the cases were tried and 3.12% of the perpetrators were convicted.
“Now imagine the actual number of all the ones that are handled “the family way” or not reported for fear of stigmatization or threats from the perpetrators were reported. Our women and children are indeed unprotected while the culture of impunity persists. This government took an oath to protect its citizens and that including our women and children”, the UP Political cry out.
Speaking to a team of reporters in Monrovia on Thursday, March 10, 2022, Amb. said the last few weeks, have had many reports of rape, including cases of a 4- and 6-year-old- raped together in Gbarpolu, a three-year-old and 2 year 9 months old. But the government has sat and watched the future of these children being snatched right before its eyes and has done nothing. He reported that rape is not only the women’s concern but everyone’s concern!
The former Vice President encouraged Liberia men to take a stand in solidarity with the women and children beginning today! “I will also like to announce that The Joseph Nyuma Boakai Foundation will now add a new focus on making interventions and advocating for the protection of women and children against gender-based violence which will be coordinated by a committee I will set up. We will work closely with the women’s movement against gender-based violence and other civil society organizations to ensure this effort is impactful”, Amb. informed Liberians.
He named; 1) Set protocols and follow them meticulously as is done with all national public health emergencies
2) Increase budgetary allocations to the Women & Child Protection Unit of the Liberia National Police in order to increase its capacity
3) Adequately fund the SGBV Unit, at the Ministry of Justice, to enable it to respond and win sexual gender-based violence cases.
4) Ensure that safe homes across the country that respond to survivors are functional and supported
5) Increase the number of Judges in the Circuit Court E
6) Educate our women and families on the danger of rape to the victims’ future, as some of the suggestions that are continuously proffered by mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters every day:
Amb. Boakai encouraged Liberians to rise up and demand that justice be done. According to him, it is unjust for babies as young as three and two years old, girls, women, and young boys to go through such traumatic experiences when there is the capability to stop what is happening.
The Unity Party Political Leader called on the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favor and to consider the current wave of rape cases in Liberia as a matter of extreme national emergency, fast-track cases, and bring the perpetrators before the law.
Reported by: Darius Karnga
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