The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) launched the Project – “Enhancing Peace and Social Cohesion through the Promotion of Equitable Access to and Use of Land for Rural Women in Conflict – prone Communities” in Kingjoy, Cape Mount County.
During the program the president of AFELL, Philomena T. Williams, informed the women of Kinjoy that under the project which is sponsored by UN WOMEN/Peace Building fund, AFELL, will provide technical support to workers union and women in concession areas to strengthen the capacity of women to participate and negotiate in concessions agreement and to monitor its implementation.
She stated that AFELL will provide Legal aid services, to victims/survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in concession affected communities.
Atty. Williams further stated that AFELL has commenced conducting awareness sessions for senior management and will facilitate dialogues between female workers unions and management.
She stated that “We will train concessions on their duty under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”
AFELL’s Vice president Bowoulo Taylor Kelley explained AFELL’s mission to the women which is “to advocate for the promotion, protection and advancement of the rights of women and children in Liberia.”
She informed the women that AFELL will focus her activities in four counties, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Nimba County.
She highlighted that women will be given the necessary tools through adequate capacity building to enable them to identify violations and abuses of their rights, and make a claim of those rights.
She intimated that legal representation is readily available for women who are victimized in these concessions’ areas.
During the interactive session in Kingjoy, the women who asked to be unanimous for fear of being targeted expressed dismay and stressed in a loud voice “We are suffering.”
The women of Kingjoy made strong allegations of sexual abuse and physical abuse noting, “We do not have jobs; we are doing SEX WORK to survive.”
They stated the lack of job opportunities; no support for the children and there is no farming area, because the company took all the land.
They complained that women are not allowed to sit on any negotiation to express their needs- “they say women have no voice” We are suffering, no job opportunities; no business opportunities. Even when jobs are available, they bring people from outside and from Monrovia for employment”
The women alleged, “Bea Mountain is treating us bad. We do not have access to enter the fence so we want AFELL to engage Bea Mountain Mining Management. We want to be empowered. We are appealing to AFELL to help us.”
Following the interactions, AFELL’s president stated that they have made several attempts to meet the management of Bea Mining but have also been denied access on two separate occasions.
At the first instance Mr. Gipli who identified himself as the Human Resources Manager told the team from AFELL that they could not meet with the management in Kinjoy, but to direct a communication to the Monrovia Office which was done but to no avail.
She remarked that she remain hopeful that the Management of BEA mountain will meet with the team in the wake of these grave allegations.
In a related development AFELL expressed thanks to the management of Western cluster in Bomi County, who promised to work and provide work with AFELL in the execution of its duties on protecting the rights of women in the concession area.
