– Former Chief Justice Warns as Women Remain at Risk
By Jessica Cox
MONROVIA — More than five years after Liberia enacted its Domestic Violence Act, former Chief Justice Frances Johnson Allison has warned that the law is failing to protect victims, as new data shows thousands of gender-based violence cases continue to go unpunished each year.
Speaking at a judicial training workshop organized by the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, Allison pointed to persistent gaps in prosecution, enforcement, and victim protection despite rising reports of abuse. According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Liberia recorded 3,591 GBV cases in 2024. Data from the first three quarters of 2025 shows 1,735 rape cases, 824 physical assault cases, and 339 domestic violence cases, though experts say actual figures are likely far higher due to widespread underreporting.
Recent assessments from early 2026 indicate more than 5,000 sexual and domestic violence cases occur annually. A 2020 demographic and health survey referenced in recent policy discussions found that 60% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence, with 33% reporting abuse within a 12-month period. In 2024, approximately 25% of cases involved intimate partners or family members, while 41% were committed by strangers and 34% by acquaintances. Montserrado County remains the epicenter, accounting for 1,902 of 2,759 rape cases recorded in 2024.
Police and court data show that 51% of domestic violence cases are dropped due to lack of evidence, and legal experts say the maximum penalty of six months imprisonment is often insufficient to deter repeat offenders. Allison emphasized that without stronger sentencing frameworks and judicial consistency, the law risks losing its deterrent value.
New forms of abuse are also emerging, including digital violence such as online harassment and non-consensual image sharing, according to reports from late 2025. The national GBV call center received 116 calls in the first quarter of 2025, with 39% directly related to GBV. Civil society organizations and youth-led movements have intensified advocacy efforts throughout 2026, staging protests and demanding stronger penalties, better victim protection, and improved case management. Stakeholders at the workshop called for specialized training for judges, better evidence collection, and integrated psychosocial support services to strengthen prosecution outcomes.
