Liberia: Gender Ministry’s Exempt During COVID-19 Lockdown, Increases Sex & Domestic Violence, Says Child Rights Activist

Apr 26, 2020 | Obediah Johnson, FPA
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Monrovia – Liberian child rights activist, Satta Fatumata Sheriff has frowned on the decision by the George Weah—led government to close the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and declare it as non-essential during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

In a statement Sunday, Sheriff, who in 2017 was elected female Speaker of the Liberian Children’s Parliament and Executive Director of Youth in Action for Peace and Empowerment (YAPE), said she is very concerned about the decision by the Weah administration to list the ministry as a nonessential institution during COVID-19 without putting any measure in place to address the needs of sexual abuse survivors at a time when Sexual Gender-based Violence cases are increasing across the Country.