LIBERIA: UN Makes Renewed Effort to Fight Rape in Liberia

The United Nations (UN) is surprised at the continued incidents of rape and other gender-targeted violence in Liberia, despite the restoration of peace, a visiting UN official said last week while on a tour of Liberia.

“Rape is common during conflict and brutal against vulnerable women but it is expected to decline in a country that is at peace,” said Margot Wallstrom, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Madam Wallstrom spent five days in Liberia as part of a multi-country assessment on rape and Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.

During and shortly after Liberia's civil conflict, rape was prevalent. One government survey of 10 of Liberia's 15 counties in 2005-2006 found that 92 percent of 1,600 women interviewed reported that they had experienced some form of sexual violence, including rape.

The prevalence of rape is declining, but several experts have expressed surprise that the rate of decline has not been larger seven years after the end of conflict.
The slow rate of decline in the incidents is not the only challenge facing efforts to reduce violence against women.

Recently, several aid agencies, including the Norwegian Red Cross and the Joint UN-Government Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Program expressed concern that aid agencies will pull out of Liberia following next year's presidential elections, cutting short key gender-based programs.

But Madam Wallstrom said a special UN action against rape will help countries such as Liberia to fight against rape and SGBV issues by focusing on reform of the judicial system, health sector, strengthening media reporting, among other interventions.

In June 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1820, linking conflict-related sexual violence with the maintenance of international peace and security, demanding the “immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians.”

The UN's renewed focus on SGBV is intended to provide a multi-sector response to the issue, recognizing that existing government and non-government interventions had thus far not gone far enough to combat the issue.

Madam Wallstrom addressed the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) regular press briefing Thursday June 3, 2010, at its Pan African Plaza Headquarters in Monrovia to mark the end of her five-day assessment visit in Liberia.

The UN expert said she believes the lack of capacity to collect and examine forensic evidence to try sexual violators is one of several reasons for continued rape and SGBV in Liberia. She said a larger part of the problem lies in the inability to ensure access to justice and health care for victims.

“One of key reasons for continued rape and SGBV in Liberia,” she said, “is because anybody can violate a woman knowing they will go free.” She stressed the need for building the capacity of the judiciary and health systems to address the issues.

Madam Wallstrom lauded the Liberian media, especially the organization Journalists Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (JASAGBV), for taking initiative to provide wider coverage on rape issues.

The SRSG assessment included a tour to the Supreme Court of Liberia, Criminal Court “E”, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender and Development and visits to UNMIL high officials, JASAGBV, the Liberia National Police (LNP) and others parts of Liberia, including Bong County.