The Managing Editor of the Inquirer Newspaper, C. Winnie Saywah-Jimmy, is calling on the government to investigate what could be an internal syndicate of child abuse among the teachers and the administration that is heavily shielded by the church at the Frazier Memorial Institute in the Jamacia Road community.
Madam Saywah-Jimmy is also urging the relevant stakeholders to impose stringent punishment on people who are convicted for rape and other sexual offenses against women and children and their families stand in the way of justice at every stage of the case.
Madam Saywah Jimmy by outlining tougher punishments for families of alleged rapists will confirm government’s commitment to protecting women and girls against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence; enable survivors regain self-esteem so as to participate in activities and make decisions that affect their lives, as well as serve as a deterrent to anyone who would show any trace of attempting to shield would-be sexual assaulters.
She made the comment following police investigation when a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and sodomized by pastor Henry Kpalleh of the Garden of Prayer Church who is also the Dean of students at the Frazier Memorial Institute on the Jamaica Road.
On Thursday December 12, police in Monrovia began investigating pastor Kpalleh for allegedly raping and sodomizing the minor who is a fourth grader at the school which lies within the premises of the church where the alleged perpetrator has a private room.
Madam Saywah-Jimmy described rape and all forms of sexual and gender-based assault against women and girls as barbaric, wicked and inhumane which should be discouraged by any well-meaning government, noting that if nothing is done to fight against such tyranny, women and girls in Liberia will continue to suffer.
“Doctor reports say the virginal and anus of the victim are damaged due to the forceful penetration but my advice is that, that child seeks advanced medical care or risks the chance of having children when she grows,” the Inquirer Managing Editor stated.
“Can you imagine that even the Independent National Commission on Human Rights recognizes that we and our daughters and sisters are subjected to rape and other forms of abused against our person. We are not sex bags. Rape against us must stop,” the stern-face publisher stressed.
She added, “Over 40 percent of the INCHR 2024 human rights situation report focused on rape and all forms of violence against women and girls. Therefore those, including families of victims and perpetrators who attempt to wave charges and compromise rape and sexual offenses should be penalized because rape is not something to discuss behind closed doors.”
She praised the Liberia National Police for arresting and investigating pastor Kpalleh who stand accused of rape and sodomizing his student on multiple occasions in his campus room noting, “I imagine how many children have been molested and are unable to explain or express themselves in that school as in the case of the ‘More Than Me’ saga? This is sad and I hope this young man gets to be tried soon though he too has ruined his future.”
She acknowledged the professional manner and care the police handled the case, and recognized that people who are accused are innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction as provided for by Article 21 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.
“While Article 21 of our Constitution provides for the principle of innocence, it would be expedient on the part of the court to ensure that people who are accused of such terrible crime are prosecuted in time so as to bring justice for both the victim and the accused,” Madam Saywah-Jimmy said.
“We don’t want this case to be like hundreds of rape cases lingering on circuit courts dockets across the country where both victim and accused are yarning for justice,” Madam Saywah-Jimmy asserted.
She observed that if such cases are adjudicated in time, they will bring justice not only for the victims, but also hold accountable the perpetrators for his actions, noting that most sexual abuse cases involve innocent women and children who deserve justice for actions against them.
The Inquirer Newspaper boss is calling on the government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to ensure that this child is safe and is able and feels confident to remain in school.
“We all need to support her family so that she seeks advanced medical care as it was recommended by the doctors. This is why I’m calling on the government and all Liberians to support the victim,” Madam Saywah-Jimmy pleaded.
