HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES CAMPAIGNER SURVIVES ATTACK. 

28

4 Mins Read

By Joseph Tumbey josephtumbey@gmail.com (+231)777941209

Afric Daily Newspaper- Gbapolu.:The head of Domafeign, the local NGO in Gbarpolu County, survives   a terrible attack  from the traditional  leaders  for his institution involvement  in what  they term as provocations to their belief. 

In less  than two weeks after  organizing  a massive  campaign  to educate  the locals about the Just and Equal Communities JEC project that focuses on, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights SRHR and the importance to eradicate  traditions  harmful  practices  in Liberia. The project is implemented by Domafeign in partnership with ActionAid Liberia with funding support from  SIDA through the Embassy of Sweden.  

The local NGO Director  “Domafeign”, Mr.  Boima Coleman reported  came under attack late  Friday  night on October 21 by  Traditional  leaders because of their  recent SRHR awareness on Harmful Traditional Practices during  their Annual Review and Reflection Action Activity in Gbarma, district Gbopolu County.

Accordingly,  Mr. Coleman  worked  over two hours  in the deep forest  and seek rescue in Gbarma where they are currently  engaging  the local Authority  to probe the attack. 

“I  was attacked  and intimidated by Traditional individuals headed by the Poro Society devil late last night and I  was forced to escape my  village and walked  over two hours  to get to the District Headquarters, Gbanga to report the case. Government is saying that there is a ban on the practice but amidst the Government order, people are still being harassed and intimidated. All this resulted from the recent JEC and SRHR activity that was held in Gbarma”,DOMAFEIGN  Director  told  the  media. 

During  their  latest  event in the County,  Coleman  asked the Government of Liberia to stop Certificating traditional  leaders who are involved in    the harmful  traditional practices  and adhere to their International  partners’ call in order  to stop  stigmatizing  Children  growing  up in their local setting. 

DOMAFEIGN  Director   encouraged the Community base  organizations  CBO,s   to educate  the  public  that Teachers  are not suppose to have sex with students  for grade,  no sex for job, no violence before   during  and after  elections, right  to Family  planning  among  Young  Girls and Women and stop the harmful  traditional practices.

Also speaking on behalf  behalf of Actionaid  Liberia at their program during Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse (SHEA) and Safeguarding session, the Communications  Officer Mr.   Khulekani Sibindi noted that  SHEA is  an international policy that is meant to prevent and protect vulnerable populations especially Women, Children, persons living with disabilities as well as Adult at risk. 

“The policy has become an International  working document that is compulsory to be adopted by all entities across the world including Liberia. He further noted that all Actionaid Liberia staff and implementing partners as well their vendors are not allowed to have relationships  with the beneficiaries.

 Should this happen, he noted that the community members have a mandate to report to the following Numbers (0770535738,0778728365 ).  Sibindi broke down the acronym SHEA and invited the participants to give relevant examples of each violence”, Mr.  Sibindi  asserted. 

He further noted that Sexual Harassment is in three forms that includes, Verbal,  Nonverbal and Physical. Present members also noted that Exploitation happens a lot in work places, schools markets, which at times result in rape. He concluded  by educating the men present that women are not properties, instead they are the mens helpers.

Comments are closed.