Women, girls seek “Safe City”

Several Liberian women and girls in Monrovia and other parts of the city are calling on government to create a safe city for all, by providing electricity to every community across the country.

its surrounding environs under the Action Aid Liberia (AAL) program titled: “Safe City for All” The women, under an Action Aid Liberia (AAL) program titled: “Safe City for All” made the plea recently at the end of a candle vigil.

This year’s “Safe City for All” program was held at the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Congo Town, a Monrovia suburb. Speaking during the occasion, the Program Manager for Women’s Rights at Action Aid Liberia, Elizabeth Johnson, said the campaign is intended to remind government and stakeholders about the need to provide electricity to the capital and universities because women and girls are the most insecure at night time.

Also speaking, the head of the Women Forum at Stella Maris Polytechnic, Nornor Bee, said women and girls should have access to electricity because it would help them in acquiring basic education to put them on par with their male counterparts.

Miss Bee said a system needs to be put in place wherein women and girls would not be harassed both at home and in their respective places of work and on school campuses.

She frowned on the act of rape and all forms of sexual and domestic violence against women and children.

In remarks, the Executive Director for the Borough Youth of Logan Town, who is also member of the Activists of AAL, Jasper White, averred that it is not a good thing for men to harass, molest, or carry on any form of violence against women and girls in society.

He wants women to be incorporated in the active governance process of the society and development as counterparts. For her part, a Registered Nurse, Joyce Jarwolo, said as Ebola is considered a public health emergency, so should SGBV be considered, because despite the numerous messages preached against SGBV, cases of rape and other sexual violence are still on the rise.

She also noted that SGBV causes mental trauma therefore, there is a need to put into place strong mechanism to ensure health workers are trained and capacitated to treat victims of SGBV.

Madam Jarwolo said stakeholders and advocacy group should go beyond the usual advocacy of parading the streets and holding placards when these menace are meted against women and children.

by Ethel A. Tweh