UNDP, Partners Host Colloquium on SGBV

The Liberian Government through the Justice Ministry, Gender Children and social Protection in collaboration with the European Union and the United Nations Development Program through the spotlight Initiative has conducted a two day national colloquium on sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prevention and responses across the country.
The two days event that brought delegates from rural Liberia and Monrovia is under the theme promoting coordination to enhance prosecution of SGBV crimes harmful traditional practices and promoting access to sexual reproduction and health Right.
The objective of the spotlight was intended to eliminate violence against women and girls who have been victimize at all time in the society.
Speaking last Monday at the opening of the colloquium in Monrovia the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai said the UNDP family was happy to attend the event of experiences along the best practices in addressing sexual gender base violence in Liberia.
He narrated that gender equality and women empowerment are important to the UNDP and the United Nations at large in its strategy for 2018/2019.
He noted that the UNDP is committed in supporting the promotion of women equal participation in the political process , peace and security issues , access to transformative livelihood and protection of their lives.
The UNDP Boss further indicated that it is in this light that the UNDP is focus on the implementation of the institutional capacity development of the European Union and the Liberian Government and the United Nations on the spotlight project that is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the Liberian Government and the United nations to address the issue of SGBV in Liberia.
He further extolled the Swedish Government for supporting the original SGBV project of which the spotlight project is on cause.
The UNDP Boss however noted that there had been some progress stressing that progress have been made in Liberia in addressing SGBV and other forms of violence against women , girls and boys.
He emphasized that there are some serious efforts stay remain in addressing the issue of SGBV that include limited coordination and intervention amongst others.
Also speaking was the Head of Cooperation first Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union Theodorus Kospers said the passage of the Domestic Violence Bills is providing a legal framework on violence against women and girls but express regret over the removal of the FGM by the legislature .
He further urged for continue efforts in formulating legal framework in addressing the issue of FGM as a crucial step in criminalizing harmful practices on human rights violation on women.
Mr.Kospers further described the domestic violence bill, the children act and the rape law as the legal framework that is in place to act laws that are demanding violation committed against women and girls .
According to him the continual high number of SGBV cases reported each year with most of them are children emphasizing that the low number of prosecution, demonstrate that there are more need to be done for the cause of justice for women and girls.
He narrated that there is a lot more that needs to be done to end those abuses and impunity that allows those human rights violation to continue, pointing that the increase of the numbers do not necessarily means a negative result but indicated that it could be an increase confidence by the victims that needs the authorities to apply more seriousness towards the perpetrators.
Mr.Kospers said the larger responsibility in addressing those critical issues relating to SGBV is mainly in the hands of the Liberian Government, stressing that the Government is responsible to enact laws that will protect women and children and such law must be enforce to end impunity.
During the opening of the National Colloquium on SGBV prevention and Response, the Public Policy Advisor in the Office of Vice President Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor ,Anthony Kesselly said the vice president has expressed thanks and appreciation to the organizers of the colloquium for the opportunity given to her office to make remarks during such an important event on SGBV prevention and Response .
Mr. Kessselly who proxy for the vice president said Dr.Howard-Taylor highlighted the challenges that are confronting the fight against SGBV .He said the vice president regretted her absent from the event due to some other engagement that she was unable to be in the room to convey approach in finding solution to such critical issue relating to the protection of women , girls and boys including all victims of abuse and harmful practices .
She further said that there is a collective efforts that is needed in addressing the SGBV situation in the country, using the event to appreciate the Liberian Government, partners for their support in finding lasting solution to SGBV crimes and harmful practices .
The Liberian Vice President further said sexual and gender bases violence is one of the most prolific human rights violations in the world today, indicating on data from statistic collected around the world that have been reveal stressing that it is an evident that SGBV affect mostly women and girls and limit their potential and full enjoyment of their human rights .
She further indicated that Liberia must tackle this issue of SGBV in order to achieve the sustainable development goals especially goal number 5 that highlights on achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls among others.
VIP Taylor said Liberia cannot achieve equality without eliminating those acts of violence against women and girls and the protection of human rights, noting that there has been some progress by the Liberian Government but pointing that such effort is not sufficient in the fight against SGBV.
Also speaking was Gender Children and social Protection Minister Williametta Saydee-Tarr said partnership is key to the fight against SGBV in Liberia .
Minister Saydee-Tarr said the Gender Ministry needs financial support to fight against SGBV and the other working of the ministry.
She further extolled all of the participants who were taking from rural Liberia and partners for assembling at the two days colloquium to deliberate on those issues that are confronting women and girls on SGBV and other harmful practices among others.
The national colloquium is an opened and safe environment for constructive engagements discussion. During conference the key facilitators presented on legal human rights obligations and rule of law including the rape law, the traditional practices in Liberia ,medical response to victims and survivors of SGBV , and HP and access to Sexual reproductive health Rights information and services , Psycho-social counseling and case management of SGBV to victims and survivor among others.