By Bill W. Cooper
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), Gbeme Horace-Kollie has disclosed that the country has recorded a staggering 2,759 cases of rape, covering January to October of 2024 alone.
The pronouncement was made during a press conference held at the Ministry of Gender, where Minister Horace-Kollie also unveiled plans for the upcoming 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which commences today, November 25, 2025.
The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign that runs from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.
This year’s global theme is: “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” while the local theme is: “From Talk to Action! Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls to Achieve Beijing +30.”
The launch, accordingly is also aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of gender-based violence, including the mobilizing individuals and communities to take action against it.
Minister Horace-Kollie also expressed her deep concern over the rising number of rape cases, emphasizing that the figures reflect a broader societal issue that requires immediate attention from all Liberians across the country.
“Members of the media, while significant progress has been made in addressing GBV, the challenges persist. Data from recent years show alarming trends with few counties still reporting high GBV cases of which in 2022, Montserrado County reported 815 rape cases, followed by Margibi, 86 and Bong, 83.
“In 2023, the numbers climbed, as Montserrado recorded 1,279 cases, Nimba 223, and Margibi 143 respectively as the total number of cases reported in 2023 stands at 3,204,” she narrated.
Minister Horace-Kollie further revealed, “By 2024, covering January to October, a total of 2,759 rape cases were reported, with Montserrado alone reporting 1,902 cases, accounting for 68.7% of reported rape cases nationwide.”
“Additionally, the stats that are being currently analyzed, projects startling figures of other cases of GBV including Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Sexual Abuse, Abandonment and amongst others.
These figures underscore the urgency of intensifying efforts to combat GBV, which remains a significant barrier to the empowerment and full potential of women and girls in Liberia,” she maintained.
The Gender Minister called for a collective effort from governmental agencies, civil society organizations, and the general public to create an environment where survivors feel empowered to speak out and seek justice.
Meanwhile, as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Ministry of Gender, in collaboration with its partners have planned a series of activities aimed at raising awareness and promoting advocacy against gender-based violence.
These include community outreach programs, workshops, and public fora that will engage various stakeholders, including youths, creative performances, GBV advocacy through sports among others.
Also, the launch of the 16 Days of Activism is expected to draw significant attention, as the country continues to struggle with the harsh realities of sexual violence and seeks to foster a culture of respect and equality for all its citizens.
As the 16 Days of Activism kicks off, the hope is that the campaign will not only raise awareness this year, but also inspire meaningful change in attitudes and behaviors towards gender-based violence across Liberia.
