During the celebrations marking the International Women’s Day on 8 March in Bentol City, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin Landgren hailed Liberia for its commitment to fight violence perpetrated against women and girls in the country. “I would like to commend Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for her leadership to end violence against women and girls in Liberia. President Sirleaf and 74 other Heads of State have signed on to the UN Secretary-General’s global campaign to “Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls”, she said.

Landgren quoted a Ministry of Gender and Development report covering January to December 2012 that recorded 2,943 cases of gender based violence across Liberia. Rape constituted 58.5 per cent of such cases. And of all rape cases, 92 per cent involved children aged between 3 months and 17 years. “These numbers are reasons why we should aim higher and make violence against women and girls a social taboo,” the UN envoy said.

Landgren pledged UN’s continued collaboration with the Liberian government to prevent and respond to gender and sexual based violence through the Joint Programme, which has helped strengthen Criminal Court ‘E’ and SGBV unit at the Liberia National Police. She lauded efforts by civil society and women groups in fight against violence against women describing them as “strong partners”.
President Sirleaf recommitted Liberian Government’s efforts to end violence against women and girls with calls to every Liberian, particularly members of security institutions to “play lead roles” because their actions and commitment to the campaigns to end violence against women rest upon what they do. “Our presence here is a recommitment of our dedication to the promotion of the cause of women to end violence against women and girls,” said the President.
“Liberia must do something about raping babies and young girls,” President Sirleaf added, as she launched the Government’s “Zero Tolerance Campaign against Sexual and Gender based Violence.”

Baleka Mbete, former South Africa Deputy President and Head of Mission of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) congratulated Liberian women “producing an inspiring women’s leadership in Liberia” which has become role model for women in Africa. Mbete called on leaders not to only tie governance to economic issues but also to prioritize ways to handle issues that affect societies in general.

The guest speaker at the event, Judge Blamo Dixon, said International Women’s Day serves as encouragement for women and girls worldwide, particularly in Liberia, to reflect on their past struggle and challenges in the fight against gender based violence. “Women and girls in Liberia should unite, network, advocate and champion their rights within confines of laws of Liberia in order to attract attention of policy makers to ensure women’s issues form integral part of national development agenda”, Dixon said.

Deborah Malac, United States Ambassador to Liberia, was among many distinguished women leaders and activists who had gathered at Bentol City to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day.