-The tragic tale of teenagers and urgent need for action
By Jerromie S. Walters
It’s a regular weekend in Monrovia and as a journalist, I’m seated quietly at home contemplating on the next tale that’s of human interest that I could take on. As a permanent resident of Central Monrovia, my mind reflects on the scores of young women who are often seen at a venue where children are not supposed to be [Pro Poor Bus Stop].
Not so certain as to whether or not they had surpassed being teenagers or they were still, my skepticism heightened and I immediately began pitching a concise story idea that I could embark upon. Pitch exhausted, pants up, shirt on, and sleeves rolled, I arranged my gadgets and kick-started the first step exactly at 9:00 PM, a time that was favorable to meet a lot of them.
Way more than I thought, this endeavor unveiled the dark and harrowing reality that unfolds where the streets, often teeming with challenges, are also home to an alarming number of underage girls caught in the throes of prostitution in the heart of Liberia’s Capital, Monrovia. Many teenagers involved in prostitution in central Monrovia attribute their participation in this controversial activity to local child trafficking, as well as neglect by their immediate family members.
Voices of the Victims:
One 15-year-old girl, Massa David (not her real name), stationed at the well-known Pro-Poor bus stop on Carey Street, Monrovia, shared that her involvement in this perilous practice stems from abandonment and maltreatment by her parents. She has been engaged in this practice for almost a year and fears returning to her parents in Paynesville due to the previous mistreatment.
Like many other street kids, she roams central town during the day and returns to her spot to conduct her regular business. At night, if things don’t go well, she is left with no option but to sleep in abandoned facilities. Another teenager, Mary Johnson (not her real name), at the age of 18, has lost her senses due to consuming harmful substances regularly. She struggles to survive on the streets with no access to care or a stable source of sustenance.
In a different scenario, Hawa Moore (not her real name), an 18-year-old sex worker, mentioned that after having her first child and enduring maltreatment by a relative she lived with after leaving Bong County, she had no choice but to engage in prostitution. She expressed willingness to leave this practice if provided with a better business opportunity, as she currently engages in prostitution to support her son who’s living with her parents in Bong County.
Investigations in the well-known “Pro-Poor Bus Stop” in central Monrovia have revealed a significant number of teenagers, mainly aged between 13-18, engaging in prostitution and also consuming illegal substances. They are often observed soliciting men during late hours, offering sexual services for money, either at a local motel at the site or at the client’s home.
A teenage sex worker at Pro-Poor Bus Stop [Full identity unknown for privacy]
The underage sex workers shared that they charge $LRD500 for their services, with an additional $LRD150 for the motel room for a short period. They emphasized that their prices are affordable to accommodate the reluctance of some individuals to engage due to their underage status. Some of these young women partially reside at the spot, while others only appear at night for business purposes. They stressed their economic need and lack of proper living conditions.
Activist’s view
Madam Ne-suah Beyan Livingstone, an experienced and award-winning women and child rights activist described the situation as alarming and worrisome. According to her, it is taking away the value and dignity of young Liberian women and requires swift remedy.
Madam Ne-suah Beyan Livingstone
Like a lot of the young women said, Madam Livingstone attributes the worrisome act to the issues of poverty, abandonment, and local child trafficking, which she recommended that the government strongly look into. “We have to look into child trafficking, we have to seriously look into that issue, and that is a contributing factor to the alarming rate of child prostitution,” she recommended.
As disclosed by the women and child rights advocate, too many individuals are involved in taking children from parts of the rural areas, with an initial promise to their parents to have them sent to school and live a better life in Monrovia. However, it often becomes a different story upon their arrival in town, as they are often made to serve as breadwinners. With this, she wants the government to assert more efforts to ensure that the issue of child trafficking is adequately addressed.
Government Response and Statistics:
Currently, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in Liberia says it lacks data on underage prostitution. However, they have expressed their intent to conduct a survey in the coming months to gather relevant information.
In Liberia, both prostitution and child trafficking are illegal. According to unofficial records from the Gender Ministry, there are over 8,000 prostitutes in Liberia, with a substantial portion being older prostitutes. UNICEF estimates indicate that 1-2 million children under 18 are sexually exploited in prostitution annually globally, with significant numbers in Asia, particularly in India and Thailand.
Research shows that Involvement in prostitution disrupts a teenager’s education and personal growth, leading to limited educational opportunities and potential long-term consequences for their future. They become targets of traffickers who manipulate and control them, subjecting them to abuse and making escape difficult..
Economically, prostitution is viewed as an industry generating significant revenue. Some argue that legalizing and regulating prostitution can lead to economic benefits, such as tax revenue and job creation. However, others contend that these economic gains are outweighed by the social costs associated with prostitution, such as increased crime rates and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
**About Pro-poor Bus Stop:**
Pro-Poor Bus Stop is located behind the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) between Broad and Carey Streets in Monrovia, Liberia. It houses several residents, an entertainment center, and a motel where underage and elderly sex workers conduct transactions. The area is infamous for hosting disadvantaged youths and the consumption and sale of harmful substances.
Night View of Pro-Poor Bus Stop
On July 13, 2021, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) conducted a significant demolition at the site and other parts of Broad Street. Following this action, disadvantaged youths, considering the area their home, declared it a No-go-zone starting at 10:00 PM that night, expressing dissatisfaction with the sudden demolition by the MCC.
