A non-profit organization, Men Against Rape and Domestic Violence (MARDV), is calling on the Liberian Legislature to increase the annual budget to the Ministry of Gender and Children Protection.
MARDV, in a release issued Monday, November 26, 2024, said the request to the legislature is intended to empower the ministry to undertake more awareness in the direction of reducing the number of women and children that are being raped.
MARDV Executive Director Mark Mengonfia said rape and other forms of violence are being reported every day with numbers scarring, and it is causing serious harms to women and children in Liberia.
Quoting the Ministry of Gender data, Mengonfia said, “2022, Montserrado County reported 815 rape cases, followed by Margibi (86) and Bong (83).”
Similarly, Mengonfia said 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.
“By 2024, the Ministry of Gender and Children protection has reported more cases covering January to October 2024. At this time, a total of 2,759 rape cases were reported, with Montserrado alone accounting for 1,902 cases, which is 68.7% of reported rape cases nationwide” Mengonfia quoted the MoGCP data in the release.
MARDV said the numbers are scarring and need more attention to have it reduced through the creation of anti-rape and violence campaign in those far and near communities.
“We are sure that the reason Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba and other counties are reporting these numbers is because the Ministry has active works being done in those areas. Our concern here is what happens to those far-to-reach towns and villages where cases are not reported. That is why we want the budget of the institution to address the issue of awareness and not to hugely address salaries” Mengonfia said.
Speaking about commemorating the 16 days of activism, the group said men are the ones who are mostly perpetrators of this violence, MARDV sees it as an obligation to join the campaign to speak to men to stop rape and all forms of sexual and gender-based violence against women and children.
MARDV said they have plans to carry on series of awareness in open spaces in Montserrado, sharing anti-rape stickers, and visiting places men meet like intercultural forums.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign entirely dedicated to eliminating all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
About MARDV: Men Against Rape and Domestic Violence is an organization established in 2020 by late journalist Trogen Kiazulu to raise awareness against rape and domestic violence in the Liberian society. The establishment came at the time when there was an increase in rape and domestic violence cases across Liberia.
