A time for a change, survivors and activists say in Liberia
Monrovia--With over 600 reported cases in the last 7 months, Liberians are fired up for change. Recent rallies to protest gender-based violence, rape, and sexual assault, indicate the level of dissatisfaction with the lack of prosecution of perpetrators. It is not uncommon to find perpetrators receiving no jail term even with evidence and a history of sexual assault.
While there have been improvements in addressing some of these issues, Liberia still has a long way to go, especially now that there is sufficient data to prove that sexual violence is still rampant and new strategies are needed to deal with it.
Oftentimes, rape cases are withdrawn due to threats to the victims or resolution by parents and the perpetrator, without the victim’s knowledge.
From healthcare service providers to police officers, there are still gaps to fill to ensure that sexual assault survivors not only get the right medical care but also access justice.
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