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ADNewsMonrovia, Liberia: Sister Aid Liberia has called on the Government of Liberia to urgently address the alarming surge in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and to prioritize sustained investment in prevention and response measures nationwide.
By Benjamin Quaye Johnson
The call was made during a high-level strategic engagement jointly convened by Sister Aid Liberia, the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia, and SisterHand Liberia. The meeting brought together senior government officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police to confront what civil society actors described as a deepening national crisis.
According to the organizers, the engagement resulted in firm commitments and proposed practical steps from government representatives, who acknowledged the urgent need to increase and sustain investment in SGBV prevention and response through a coordinated, multi-actor approach.
Structural and Operational Gaps Highlighted
During the discussions, civil society leaders presented data reflecting a troubling rise in reported SGBV cases and underscored systemic weaknesses hampering effective response services. Among the key challenges identified were:
Limited access to comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and legal support for survivors
Inadequate shelters and safe spaces, particularly outside Monrovia Weak referral pathways and case management systems Under-resourced Women and Children Protection Sections within the police
Delays in investigations and prosecutions
Persistent stigma, fear of retaliation, and low reporting rates
Insufficient and inconsistent funding for SGBV prevention and response initiatives
Gaps in implementing existing legal and policy frameworks, including the Domestic Violence Act, the Rape Law, the Children’s Law, and related criminal justice provisions
The civil society coalition stressed that without stronger institutional accountability and adequate budgetary support, survivors will continue to face barriers in accessing justice and essential services.
Call for Increased Investment and Political Leadership
Sister Aid Liberia and its partners emphasized the need for increased domestic budgetary allocations, strengthened multi-sectoral coordination, and improved accountability within the justice and security sectors.
They also called for the expansion of survivor-centered services and intensified prevention programs particularly those engaging men, boys, and young people to challenge harmful social norms that perpetuate violence.
“Ending sexual and gender-based violence requires collective and sustained action across government institutions, law enforcement, civil society, and communities,” the organizations noted, urging authorities to move beyond policy pronouncements toward measurable and time-bound action.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
In response, government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening SGBV prevention and response mechanisms. Officials pledged closer collaboration with civil society organizations, youth groups, and community stakeholders to ensure coordinated, survivor-centered, and community-driven interventions.
Following extensive deliberations, both government officials and civil society actors agreed to pursue immediate and long-term actions under a broader multi-actor framework aimed at addressing the rising wave of SGBV incidents across Liberia.
Sister Aid Liberia welcomed the commitments but underscored the importance of follow-through.
The organization called for concrete policy-driven actions, stronger political leadership, increased financial investment, and consistent monitoring to ensure justice, protection, and dignity for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Development partners and international stakeholders supporting SGBV interventions in Liberia include UNDP Liberia, Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, UN Women Liberia, European Union in Liberia, Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia, British Embassy Monrovia, Plan International, and UNFPA Liberia.
As SGBV cases continue to rise, advocates say the effectiveness of Liberia’s response will depend not only on commitments made in meeting rooms, but on sustained political will, adequate funding, and coordinated implementation on the ground.
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