Women and girls in Liberia are affected by violence in all areas of their lives

“What happened in the school was nothing new,” Caroline Bowah says. “It stands for all the violence experienced by women and girls in Liberia, for their lack of protection, and for the impunity of the perpetrators.” Women and girls are affected by violence in all areas of their lives: in the workplace, at school, at home, and in their community. Moreover, in the months prior to the release of the documentary, there was an increase in cases of violence against women. The influence of traditional forces is growing. Progress achieved in the past years, for example, the legislation against rape and domestic violence, is in danger of being watered down.

These developments in the country have triggered various protests. The demonstrators are calling on the government to be consistent in their punishment of perpetrators and provide protection and counseling to survivors of sexualized violence. medica Liberia, one of the leading and well-known women’s organizations in Liberia, works on behalf of women and girls in the southeast of the country and in the region around the capital. Alongside its advocacy work, the organization also provides direct support: its staff, for example, organizes “Girls’ Clubs”, in which girls can speak freely to one another. Information on sexuality, contraception, and women’s rights are at the heart of these meetings.

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Source of the text: Annual report 2018, p. 16-17

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Female genital mutilation: Pain, shame and silence: The women's rights organization medica Liberia is currently working within the Feminist Forum of Liberia to ensure that female genital mutilation remains a statutory offense under the "Law against domestic violence”.