Source: All Africa
The Independent Commission on Human Rights (INHCR) says the frequency of rape is alarming and must be tackled by the state in prosecuting the perpetrators. Releasing the Commission's 2014 report, its chairperson, Cllr. Gladys Johnson said the frequency of rape, including gang rape, has become increasingly alarming.

She disclosed that during the year under review, 1,200 rape cases were reported, affecting women, girls and infants. And of those cases, she said, less than 3 percent was prosecuted. Speaking on domestic violence Cllr. Johnson added that it is widespread across Liberia and it negatively affects the wellbeing of women.

"The real challenge for curbing domestic violence is its near acceptance by almost every ethnic group, irrespective of social status or class," she said. "While rural women suffer most from incidents of domestic violence, there are instances of urban educated women also experiencing a high prevalence of domestic violence as well."

She stated that poor enforcement of immigration regulations at Liberia's borders has increased human trafficking. "The number of reported trafficking cases has been spiraling upwards primarily because of poor enforcement of immigration regulations at border points and domestic adoption lapses." The INCHR commission continued: "The epic center of most reported trafficking incidents is the Middle East and Gulf States where unsuspecting Liberian women, in pursuit of good jobs to enable them make decent lives for themselves and their families, are unfortunately trafficked."

She added that the trafficked victims are not only exploited, but they encounter myriads of degrading and inhumane treatments, including being forced to engage in involuntary prostitution, working for far below the minimum wage and beyond required working hours amongst others. "Additionally, the case also highlights the leniency of the Liberian legal system towards traffickers because the traffickers received lenient sanctions from the law," Cllr. Johnson said.

Cllr. Johnson disclosed that there are also cases of internal trafficking in which children from rural Liberia, who are promised better education, are also victims to trafficking as they languish in urban towns."Oftentimes, they are used as petty street peddlers or are forced to engage in prostitution as well and servitude." "The Government is yet to engage in any sustained education initiatives such that the population better understand the dangers of trafficking and how the population can take positive steps to prevent the occurrence or frequency of trafficking," she states.

Female Genital Mutilation

Speaking on the issue Female Genital Mutilation, the INCHR boss said the practices of Sande and Poro have undermined the rule of law. She recalled the police officer who was forcibly initiated in the Poro in Gbarpolu County while in Grand Cape Mount County, several members of the Poro gang-raped a woman and escaped arrest."To date, most of the rapists remain at large," she said.

Cllr. Johnson said the likelihood is very little that the alleged rapists will ever face justice, consistent with the law. "The most that was done by government was to have arrested the leader of the Poro and have him and detained without trial up to the period of this report." She stated that Liberia is endowed with several rich traditional customs just as it is also troubled with some unfavorable ones.

"FGM, widely practiced by nearly half the tribes of Liberia, remains a vexing problem which previous governments and even the current one have failed to eradicate. The primary reason for this failure has been the Government's unwillingness to lose political support with tribes who practice FGM," she added. She said despite the adequate awareness about the harmful consequences of FGM, both local and national leaders are timid to address this practice.

She chastised politicians who blindly support the practice. Said Cllr. Johnson: "Most educated elites of FGM practicing tribes do not initiate their children in the Sande schools. But because they benefit from a populist platform, they never openly criticize the practice. During the reporting period, both voluntary and forceful initiation of girls was reported in Lofa, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Margibi Counties."

"Even during the peak of the Ebola outbreak when the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which regulates traditional practices, was constrained to issue a directive aimed at restricting the operation of Sande Schools, FGM remained undisturbed notwithstanding the restriction. In instances where the MIA did order temporary suspension of the Sande Schools, the traditional leaders ignored the MIA's instruction; hence, the schools remain operational."

Go to top