Madame Nizigama explained that from January to September 2019, a total of 2,018 incidents of violence were reported, of which an increased number of 1,363 were rape cases with 70% involving children below 17-year, unlike 2018 where 1210 cases were reported, affecting children.
“Often times, I have heard assertions such as women and girls dress indecently, therefore they call rape upon themselves. This is no justification for rape! It is a human right violation and should therefore be treated as such and perpetrators brought to book,” she pointed out.
She made the statement over the weekend during the pre-launch of the 16 days of Activism against gender violence under the theme: “Still Blue: Enough is Enough! Stop Rape and Promote Equality!”
Gender inequality is another issue that leads to violence against women and girls, because if a woman is still looked at as inferior to her male counterpart, that woman’s self-esteem, confidence and ability to empower herself will be limited, which will make her more vulnerable to violence, UN Representative added.
“It is a matter of introspection for all of us as a society that our children are being abused with negative misconceptions around rape which have worsened this scourge in Liberia. Urgent steps must be taken to address the matter at several levels,” she stressed.
She added: “Let all citizens join efforts to prevent rape and other forms of violence across the country.”
According to her, the landmark National Comprehensive Prevention Strategy that was launched recently by Gender Ministry and partners should be mainstreamed in all programs to ensure that rape is made a “thing of the past.”
She then called on all actors and activists to create a passion to end violence against women, especially rape.