Paynesville, Liberia – A memorandum of agreement has been signed by two advocacy groups, Men Against Rape and Domestic Violence (MARDV) and Just A Girl Initiatives (JAGI), committing to work together to end domestic violence and rape in Liberia. The Just A Girl Initiatives office in Duazon, Lower Margibi County, hosted the signing ceremony on February 27, 2025.
MARDV, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the fight against sexual violence, domestic abuse, and advocating for the protection of women’s and girls’ rights in Liberia and JAGI, a non-profit organization focused on empowering, promoting, and protecting the rights of girls and women, particularly in the areas of sexual and gender-based violence, girls and women’s empowerment through vocational and technical skills, as providing opportunities to enable women to live productively and make informed decisions about their lives and contribute to society advancement in Liberia agreed to ensure that their advocacies reach counties in Liberia.
“Both organizations are committed to advocating for the rights of women and girls in Liberia, focusing on the promotion, protection, and helping Liberian women and girls to participate in positive ventures such as skill training and rights education” Mrs. Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh, Executive Director of JAGI said during the signing ceremony.
According to Mrs. Seagbeh, who read the agreement, MARDV and JAGI want to work together and coordinate their efforts through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their common goals in the fight against rape and domestic violence. This will help communities understand the reporting process and how to report incidents of rape and domestic violence, regardless of whether they are committed against a woman or a man.
The two institutions have pledged to promote, protect, and include Liberian women and girls from Margibi, Montserrado, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bomi Counties in initiatives aimed at preventing and increasing awareness of domestic abuse and rape.
“We will offer assistance by connecting victims and survivors with other groups that offer resources to these groups. We don’t have the funds, but we can connect individuals to organizations, and JAGI has been doing that.” Mrs. Seagbeh stated that they will work together to implement lobbying, policy reform, community outreach, education, and awareness campaigns.
Making certain that girls and women actively participate in community decision-making events. She stated that women and men in all communities should be mentored and educated about the dangers of domestic abuse and rape, as well as the effects it has on families, communities, and the country as a whole.
The signing represents a significant milestone in the battle against rape and domestic abuse in Liberia, according to Mark Neywon Mengonfia, Executive Director for Men Against Rape and Domestic abuse (MARDV).
As a father of two daughters, Mr. Mengonfia stated that he believes it is important to work for a safe environment for women, girls, children, and all people.
“For this reason, we are very happy to be here this afternoon to sign an MOU with Just A Girl Initiatives, an organization that shares MARDV’s focus,” Mengonfia stated.
“This MOU is meant to unite our forces to confront this national issue together,” he added.
“This year, we want to do a number of things, such setting up HE for SHE clubs at high schools, having meetings with community people and their leaders, and hosting sporting events. Before we begin to condemn, we don’t want to wait for another child to be raped, a boy to be sodomized, or a woman to be brutally murdered,” the MARDV Executive Director stated.
The MARDV ED stated that they are organizing a football competition for the entire day on March 15, 2015, in order to raise awareness.
MARDV was founded in 2020, when former President George Weah proclaimed rape a national emergency, according to Mr. Mengonfia.
“It is an organization that aims to change the mindsets, encourage wholesome relationships, and cultivate a culture of equality, responsibility, and respect. We work collaboratively with survivors, policymakers, and stakeholders to create a safer environment where violence will no longer have a place,” he stated.
He went on to say, “This institution’s vision is to see Liberia where every person, regardless of gender, lives free from the threat of domestic violence and rape.”
According to the MARDV ED, they see a society in which all relationships are built on mutual respect, love, and understanding, and where men and women are unified in the battle against violence.
He stated, “We envision a time when no one endures pain in silence and where everyone in need of assistance and justice can get it.”
