By Bill W. Cooper
Gender Minister, Williametta Saydee-Tarr, has disclosed that four out of the 15 counties are now on record of reporting the highest numbers of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in 2023.
Minister Saydee-Tarr named Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, and Grand Cape Mount as the counties still reporting the highest cases of SGBV in the country to date.
“The Ministry would like to announce that Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, and Grand Cape Mount are still reporting high cases of SGBV, according to the Ministry’s latest stats,” she lamented.
This alarming news now raises concerns about the safety and well-being of individuals within these regions, needing an urgent need for effective measures to combat SGBV and ensure justice for survivors.
But according to the Minister, the Ministry’s stats covering January to September 2023, show that Montserrado County alone reported 1,223 cases of SGBV.
She explained that in 2022, Nimba County recorded 189 SGBV cases, while in 2023, the number of cases increased to 315.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Lofa County recorded 99 cases, while in 2023, the number of cases increased to 237, as at September.
“Grand Cape Mount County also reported 37 cases in 2022, but the number has increased to 183 cases in 2023, as at September this year, and the full stats are available for the public,” she noted.
Minister Saydee-Tarr also revealed that while significant progress has been made toward addressing all forms of violence against women and girls, the country is still challenged on other areas in the fight against the malice.
“Though we have enlightened the population about the SGBV referral pathway, there still remains a culture of silence, family-based settlement of GBV cases, harmful traditional practices, early child marriages, and other vulnerabilities leading to the raping of minors, young girls, and boys.
For instance, in 2022 1,975 GBV cases were reported, with 66.4 percent accounting for rape, gang rape, and sodomy, and 33.6 percent accounting for other forms of GBV. Of these cases, 65 percent involved female survivors under 18 years old.
Between January and August 2023, a total of 2,109 GBV cases were reported, with 68.5 percent or 1,446 cases accounting for rape, gang rape, and sodomy, affecting 68 percent or 1,440 survivors under the age of 18 years,” Minister Saydee-Tarr added.
She furthered, “To this end, the Ministry will continue to work collaboratively to end this menace, with a focus on prevention with relevant stakeholders, including HeForShe champions, traditional leaders, counties and national leadership, members of the GBV Observatories, as well as direct engagement with women and girls who are mostly affected.”
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, we are especially proud that as we round up our public service, one of our dreams has been realized and will be officially launched on the 7th of December – The JFK Memorial Hospital – One Stop Center. We thank UNFPA for the support and thank Dr. Jerry Brown and the JFK family for the cooperation to see this happen,” the Country’s Gender Minister added.
