Gender Ministry Records 2,109 SGBV Cases Between January- August 2023

CONGO TOWN, Monrovia: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection through Minister Williametta Saydee-Tarr says while substantial progress has been made toward addressing all forms of violence against women and girls, Liberia is still challenged ranging from a “culture of silence, family-based settlement of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases, harmful traditional practices, early child marriages, and other vulnerabilities leading to the raping of minors, young girls and boys.” 

 Unlike in 2022 where 1,975 GBV cases were reported, with 66.4% accounting for rape, gang rape, and sodomy, and 33.6% accounting for other forms of GBV with 65% involving female survivors under 18 years old, between January and August 2023, a total of 2,109 GBV cases have been reported, with 68.5% or 1,446 cases accounting for rape, gang rape, and sodomy affecting 68% or 1,440 survivors under the age of 18 years, according to the Gender Ministry latest statistic.   

 Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, and Grand Cape Mount are among the counties in Liberia that continue to report high cases of SGBV.

 Montserrado County alone reported 1,223 cases of SGBV as compared to 2022 stats wherein Montserrado County recorded 959 cases. In 2022, Nimba County recorded 189 SGBV cases while in 2023 the number of cases increased to 315. Also, in 2022, Lofa County recorded 99 cases while in 2023, the number of cases increased to 237 as of September. Grand Cape Mount County also reported 37 cases in 2022, but the number has increased to 183 cases in 2023 as of September this year. 

 Despite these challenges, the Ministry through its Boss, Saydee-Tarr says it will continue to work collaboratively to end this menace with a focus on prevention with relevant stakeholders including HeForShe champions, traditional leaders, counties, and national leadership, members of the GBV Observatories, as well as direct engagement with women and girls who are mostly affected. 

 Govt’s Effort to Combat SGBV

Highlighting efforts by the outgoing administration, Minister Tarr stated that “under the leadership of President Weah, the government has invested over One Million United States Dollars (US$1M) since 2020 through budgetary appropriations to address sexual and gender-based violence, discrimination, and harmful and traditional practices.” 

“To date, we have provided logistical support, including vehicles and motorbikes, to enhance the work of the Anti-SGBV Task Force,” she stated.

 She boasted that the ministry continues to provide educational support to vulnerable girls through the Vulnerable Girls Program targeting over 150 adolescent girls annually as well as establishing and supporting the SGBV Call Center and has strengthened stakeholders' capacities through training to adequately prevent and respond to SGBV cases and related issues.