The Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Sexual Gender-Based Violence (ITSGBV) which has the mandate to engage all SGBV stakeholders and direct prevention and response programming on ending Sexual Gender-Based Violence by 2022 has held its preliminary second quarter meeting – the first meeting of 2021. This meeting was to review the work accomplished and challenges met during the first quarter implementations of the Anti-SGBV Roadmap 2020-2022.
The meeting of the ITSGBV and the subsequent endorsement of the full first quarter progress report (September-December 2020) further demonstrates the government’s continuous commitment in addressing the menace of rape and domestic violence meted predominantly against women and girls. The members of the taskforce also used the time to discuss the plan of action for the next quarter.
In September of 2020, the government of Liberia and Partners developed and endorsed an Anti-Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Roadmap 2020-2022.
The Anti-SGBV Roadmap is to address the scourge of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence due to heightened awareness of rape cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Roadmap aspires to combat existential issues affecting SGBV prevention and response services, whereby a safe and comprehensive prevention and response program would be made for SGBV survivors. Additionally, the Roadmap aims to reduce the prevalence of SGBV, especially rape, against women, girls and children through driving change and fostering accountability amongst Duty Bearers in addressing SGBV policies, systems and mechanisms to mitigate SGBV risks, especially violence against women and girls within the context of the guarantees under the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development
According to the Ministry of Gender, the full first quarter report shall be published to the public momentarily.
In attendance of the January meeting held at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection were: Mr. Samuel D. Tweah – Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah – Minister of Health, Prof. D. Ansu Sonii – Minister of Education, Cllr. Charles Gibson – Minister of Labor and Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr – Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Also in attendance were representations from the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Youth and Sports and the Monrovia City Corporation, along with the relevant technicians.
The Anti-SGBV Inter-Ministerial Taskforce consists of the Ministries of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Justice, Internal Affairs, Health, Finance and Development planning, Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Youth and Sports, Labor/TIP Taskforce, Education and the Monrovia City Corporation.
