LFA’s Women Football Holds First Anti-SGBV Initiative …In Observance of 16-Days of Activism

The Liberia Football Association (LFA) through its Women Football Committee, on Monday, December 9, hosted its first Anti-Sexual and Gender Based Violence initiative (SGBV) initiative thus calling for the immediate halt to the menace of rape and all forms of violence against women, girls and boys.
Considering that football also has a huge women participants inclusive of its women football club teams, the program which was designed in observance of the 16-Days of Activism against sexual and gender based violence, was part of the committee’s effort to heighten the awareness on the danger SGBV poses to attaining the potentiality if women are given a safer space.
Held in collaboration with Liberia Initiative for empowerment (LIFA), the one-day program brought together female players from various local women football club teams including the famous Monrovia Football Academy, Women Football Stakeholders, female staff of the local football house as well as local and international Civil Society actors.
The gathering, described as the first of its kind in the history of the FA, highlighted the importance of involving institutions from diverse sectors including those in sports to elevate the awareness and join the fight against the inhumane act of sexual and gender based violence against women, girls and boys across the country.
Recognizing the unifying role of sports, particularly football, the gathering was engineered with a focus to re-echo Anti-SGBV messages amongst female athletes, stakeholders as well as sports administrators, thereby insisting that they make a new pledge to champion and accelerate the campaign against SGBV in all sectors.
In addition, President Mustapha Raji demonstrated the FA’s commitment to zero SGBV posture against women and girls by renewing his institution’s pledge to ensuring a safer space. He mentioned that added efforts have been made by his regime to increase women participation at the local football house, referencing the increment in female club teams and the recruitment of more female staff. Raji also said that the FA is willing to work with other institutions to put an end to rape and other forms of violence against women and girls. He at the same time called on males to join in spreading the message of Anti-SGBV.
For her part, the inspirational speaker, Madam Faith Akovi Cooper said it’s about time that Liberia embarks on the traditional approach, that is to say, by getting all sectors as well as institutions engaged with the campaign against SGBV.
Madam Cooper who is also the first ‘Black Woman’ Country Director of International Rescue Committee (IRC Liberia), indicated that is critically important that the campaign and awareness against sexual and gender based violence is initiated in the sporting environment.
The IRC Liberia boss applauded the FA’s Women Football Committee for initiating such awareness campaign and however urged the men to join efforts in ensuring that the message of Anti-SGBV resonates well, stressing, “We all have a part to play in creating a safe space for women, girls and our boys.”
Earlier, Madam Jodie Reid Seton, Chairperson-LFA Women Football Standing Committee, recognized the importance of the 16-Days of Activism against Women and girls. Mrs. Seton who also appreciated the involvement of football stakeholders acknowledged that the period is meant to vigorously elevate the fight against SGBV in Liberia.
Also in remarks, Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh of District #3, Margibi County, said now is the time for a collaborative effort in creating a safe space for young women and girls.