By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia – Several civil society groups and rights advocates are demanding urgent action, protection, and investment in the wellbeing of women and girls, while condemning the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection’s 2025 report documenting 1,735 rape cases as alarming and unacceptable.
The groups issued a joint press conference signed by the Federation of Liberian Youth, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Champions Liberia, Concerned Youth, Feminist Movements, Student Leaders, and Human Rights Advocates of Liberia, Sister Hand Liberia, Youth Consolidated Action, Healing Bridge Liberia, and Book Before Boys.
At the same time, the groups expressed deep concern regarding what they described as attempts to frame exclusionary and anti-rights agendas as efforts to “strengthen families” in Liberia.
The groups believe that Liberian families do not need fear-driven campaigns that encourage discrimination and social division. Instead, they need policies that reduce poverty, improve maternal healthcare, expand educational opportunities, strengthen child protection systems, prevent violence, and create economic opportunities for young people.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Federation of Liberian Youths Office in Monrovia, Ms. Jile Z. Tawhy, representing Books Before Boys, read the joint statement on behalf of the group. She stated that sexual and gender-based violence remains one of Liberia’s most alarming crises.
According to her, women continue to die from preventable maternal health complications in Liberia, while many girls grow up without access to accurate health information, safe spaces, mentorship, mental health support, livelihood opportunities, and protection from exploitation, drugs, peer pressure, online abuse, and violence.
“The reality in Liberia today demands urgent action, protection, and investment in the wellbeing of women, girls, and vulnerable communities, not campaigns rooted in fear, discrimination, and exclusion,” she stated. “According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Liberia recorded 3,381 cases of gender-based violence in 2024, with 85 percent of survivors being women and girls. Additionally, in 2025, 1,735 rape cases were documented during the first three quarters.”
Ms. Tawhy further indicated that many youths are also struggling with unemployment, poverty, substance use, limited access to skills training, and the absence of trusted adults or systems they can turn to for guidance. She urged that if any organization truly wants to strengthen families, these are the issues they should confront.
“These are the realities they must confront. These are the issues that weaken families, limit young people’s futures, and undermine national development. It is against this backdrop that we are deeply concerned by attempts to frame exclusionary and anti-rights agendas as efforts to ‘strengthen families’ in Liberia. Too many girls are pushed out of school because of early and unintended pregnancies,” she urged.
Accordingly, she lamented that while these initiatives present themselves as defenders of culture, morality, and national values, the positions they promote risk creating greater harm for the very families they claim to protect.
“This is not a rejection of faith or culture, but a call to ensure that the rights, dignity, safety, and inclusion of all people are protected and upheld. Policies and narratives that stigmatize vulnerable communities, restrict access to healthcare and information, silence discussions around SRHR, and undermine the rights of women and young people do not create stronger homes or safer communities. Instead, they deepen inequality, reinforce harmful social norms, and increase vulnerability for those already facing systemic barriers,” she concluded.
