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GOVT. UN

GBV JOINT

PROGRAMME

GBV PREVENTION STRATEGY

MEETING REPORT

WITH SUPPORT FROM

GBV PREVENTION STRATEGY MEETING REPORT 2013

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Table of Contents

1. Background ........................................................................................... 3

2. Objectives of the Meeting ................................................................ 4

3. Reducing sexual violence in Liberia –Prevention cycle,

partners and synergistic actions ........................................................ 4

Prevention Focus: ..................................................................................... 5

4. Key GBV Prevention Strategies in Liberia ................................ 7

5. Conclusion from Presentations .................................................. 20

6. Geographical Spread ....................................................................... 23

7. Recommendation for 2014 .......................................................... 24


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1. Background

The Evaluation of the Government of Liberia (GoL)/ United Nations (UN) Joint Program on

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (JPSGBV) commissioned by the United Nations

Population Fund (UNFPA) as the Lead and administrative agent (AA), of the GOL/UN Joint

Programme on Sexual and Gender based Violence in February 2013 was to provide a

comprehensive overview of the implementation of the first phase (2008- 2011) and second

phase (2012- 2013) of the Joint Program. The evaluators recommended the need for

focusing on a strong prevention strategy in 2014. Some of the key recommendations made

under prevention were:

1. Prevention Strategy1:

Identify key prevention strategies adopted by different partners countrywide through a consultation with GBV partners, and develop a broad framework for coordinated support to identified promising prevention strategies. The consultation should serve as a forum to share experiences, skills and promising practices to address commonly encountered challenges

Institutionalize all established networks viz. observatory, religious, media, traditional leaders, women and men networks.

Develop and popularize innovative approaches to messaging for example: using football field, radio messages during matches, messages on taxis, buses, institutional vehicles as well as using motorcycle riders to disseminate information.

Create awareness with a focus on impact not just what is violence for example the message on malaria states ” Malaria Kills” similarly GBV messaging must focus on impact for example ‘Violence impacts health, reduces productivity and also kills’.

Support and institutionalize children networks/clubs in schools and promote safe

spaces/safety strategies to prevent violence against children. MoE institutions such

1 GBV JP evaluation report 2013

Report by Dr. Madhumita Sarkar Advisor Govt. UN GBV JP


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as teacher training colleges must be engaged and the implementation of schools

against GBV initiative should be supported.

Create a national role model of men to men network comprising of male leaders

across all sectors targeting men at all levels in order to identify key challenges

affecting men and boys and to speak out against GBV. MEGEN, men to men network

in Malawi, which targets both male professionals and male community members, is

an example worth emulating.

Promote role model families who have survived GBV to speak about their

experiences and encourage other families to report about and take action against

GBV.

Increase public awareness of GBV by moving away from the mere 16 days of activism to a robust 365 days campaign against GBV and encourage every citizen to take specific steps to prevent GBV in both the private and public arena.

In light of the recommendations made the Government UN GBV JP facilitated a one day workshop on GBV prevention strategies in Liberia. GBV Taskforce members were invited to present their strategy, their networks/partners and the geographical areas covered. Twenty organizations including network representatives and civil society organizations presented their prevention strategies.

2. Objectives of the Meeting:

To identify Key GBV prevention strategies currently being adopted/implemented in

Liberia and share experiences, skills

To facilitate discussion on key target stakeholders and prioritize key prevention strategies

for 2014

3. Reducing sexual violence in Liberia –Prevention cycle,

partners and synergistic actions

The presentation by UNICEF was to provide the settings for the discussion on prevention

strategies for 2014.


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Prevention Focus:

1. Prevention cycle - Review of different stages/phases/components/target

groups of ongoing GBV prevention strategies

The review of the different stages/phases of prevention strategies adopted since the start of the program in 2008, clearly indicate that, the initial and continued focus has been campaigns from 2008 to 2013, followed by more focused prevention strategies that looked at creation of networks (GBV Observatory Network, Religious Network in 2011), working with community, children, men’s groups in 2012 and 2013, engagement with traditional leaders 2012 -2013, call in radio programs focused on GBV and dialogues in 2013.

• 2008-2010: Several campaigns against rape

• 2011: First National Retreat on prevention of sexual violence against children

• 16 day nationwide campaign by GoL, UNMIL, UN

• Call in radio and FGDs –UNMIL

• All men dialogue-GoL, UN, CSOs

• HLP Post 2015 meeting – GoL, CSOs, LCP, UN

• Anti-Rape campaign May 2013 –GoL, UN, CSOs

• UNWOMEN’s “The Billion Rising Campaign” - One day campaign - Calling on people to “strike, rise and dance” to demand an end to violence against women

• 12th Man Campaign: Men give voice to women’s stories ‘her story is my story and I am my sister’s keeper’

• MoGD, UNFPA and UNICEF consultations with Traditional Leaders: as community gate keepers to transform communities and make them agents of change in addressing SGBV and harmful traditional practices

• Gov-UN engagement with Religious leaders and networks on using their strategic platform, church or mosques and the large outreach that they have through their believers.

• Several campaigns and interventions ongoing through the Gov-UN Task Force on GBV involving the Government, UN agencies and civil society [Inter religious council of Liberia, National Traditional council, Media, women’s/men and youth groups]

• UNMIL support to campaign: Sporting activities (soccer and kickball), Video shows, Door-to-door sensitization, Street parades against rape, Anti-rape songs, Radio talk shows and traditional Groups of Communicators to support the ‘Stand Up Against Rape’ in 10 counties.


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• “The Dialogue” a live interactive outdoor Talk Show broadcasted through FM and community radio stations throughout the country

Early / mid way lessons

• One day / year campaigns not enough-longer term strategy required

• Too early for impact but also no comprehensive M&E mechanisms in place

• No comprehensive C4D strategy that strengthens synergies between different civil

society and community interventions

2. Working better together – Synergies - contributing to each others’ strategies -

Faster and bigger results

The need for synergies and contributing to each others’ strategies was proposed as a focus for 2014 GBV JP as shown in the figure below. It was emphasized that:

• All partners’ strategies and actions mapped and disseminated : programmatic and

geographic

• Collaborations – not mere information sharing during meetings but active synergies

for bigger and faster results in protecting women and children from sexual violence

and rape

• Long term strategy (5-7 years) backed by formative research and analysis on root

causes

Advocacy

Community / Social mobilization/networks

Comprehensive communication strategy

Using:

Innovative Mass media strategies

Social Media


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4. Key GBV Prevention Strategies in Liberia

AGENCY STRATEGY NETWORKS/

PARTNERS

LOCATIONS

IRC To empower women and girls to

equally contribute to and access the

benefits of reconstruction in Liberia,

free from sexual and physical violence

Engaging Men in accountable Practices

( EMAP)

Women have access to and control over

resources and play an active role in the

development of their communities and

girls are safe( r ) from sexual

exploitation and abuse

Village Savings and Loans Associations

+ discussion Group Series + CEFE

business training

856 men since 2011

in Nimba, Lofa and

Montserrado

Servants of All

prayer

Assembly(SOAP) –

Pillar 1 EMAP

Liberian Initiatives

for Developmental

Services – CEFE

business training

Women Action

groups- Case

management

Montserrado,

Lofa Nimba and

Grand Gedeh

Counties

NRC

1) Strengthen community awareness

and commitment

Building the capacity of community

groups in gender and GBV to challenge

gender imbalance and address

protection issues from within

WISE GROUPS2 ( since 2009)

WISE WOMEN – 35

groups

WISE MEN – 24

groups

WISE Youth & out of

school – 29 groups

WISE Youth in

Montserrado: 35

groups

Margibi: 40

groups

Bong: 36 groups

Nimba: 14 groups

2 WISE Women, WISE Men and WISE Youth include women and men of influence in their communities such as Village

Chiefs, Traditional Birth Attendants, Youth Leaders (for both in school and out of school youth) and senior members of

local community based organizations all of whom have the potential to command significant respect and influence within

their communities


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• Integration of community

leadership in WISE groups

• Training through a cycle

• Strengthen their self reliance

through IGA

• Support mini campaigns with

materials as well as micro

grants – support planning

processes

Support their leadership & institutional

capacity

Community radio’s and

listening club for greater

coverage

Strengthened understanding

in schools

Train teachers and youth

on GBV consciousness

Schools – 28 groups

WISE Teachers – 15

groups (2013 new)

Block leaders camps

for SEA prevention

Strategic partners:

MoGD, MOH, WACPS,

Crimes Unit,

WIPNET

EQUIP

Liberia

Prevention & Community

Empowerment: Awareness raising,

trainings, capacity building, prevention

education, sensitization activities and

strengthening of existing community-

based organizations.

Community Welfare Committees,

traditional structures and leaders such

as zoes, town chiefs and clans, men's,

women's and youth groups.

Trainings, Capacity Building prevention

education workshops to identify report

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Gender

and Development

Liberia National

Police

Ministry of Health

and Social Welfare

INGOs including:

UNHCR, UNICEF,

FIND, SERE, NRC,

IRC

Nimba County:

Over 200

communities

across all six

districts -

Saclepea Mah,

Sanniquellie Mah,

Gbelleh Geh, Zoe

Geh, Yarwin

Mensonneh and

Tappita

Grand Gedeh: in

Tchien, Konobo

and Gbarzon


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and respond appropriately to SGBV

cases and to prevent violence.

Sensitization sessions and build

capacity to address SGBV issues

through culturally appropriate means

such as community dialogues, radio

programming, campaigns, participation

in national and global awareness

events, radio programming, drama,

song, dance, theatre and debates.

Various CSOs

including Women of

Hope, Inland

Women Network

Districts

Selected Parts of

Montserrado

County:

WOMEN

RIGHTS

WATCH

(WORIWA)

Prepare women and girls

(particularly secondary students

and illiterate and semiliterate

women) take responsibility for the

protection of their own rights

We create and support community

rights committee (CRCs) monitor,

document and report domestic

violence

We create and/or support Peer

Watch Clubs in schools managed by

female students discuss, monitor

and report sexual exploitation and

abuse (SEA)

Law enforcement

officers in

processing cases

affecting our

participants and

seeking penalties

against

predators/perpetrat

ors

Work with school

administrators and

Parent-teacher

associations and

student leaderships

11 communities

on Domestic

Violence issues

22 schools on

SEA issues

Grand Bassa

County

INHCR Year-long program to undertake

sustained advocacy to articulate

concrete steps to stop child rape in

Liberia.

The Commission along with partners

will mobilize government, key

stakeholders and the general public to

take action to end child rape in Liberia.

Ministry of Gender

& Development

Ministry of Health

UN Partners

CSO with focus on

Child Rights

Child Right

All local

communities in

Montserrado

County


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Strategy Focus

Awareness raising

Information sharing

Review of actual mechanisms. To be

able to make the necessary legislative

changes, existing mechanisms needs to

be reviewed to find gaps and challenges

Advocates

Inter-religious

Council

Ministry of

Education

Judiciary

Legislature

Religious

Network

Against GBV

Use Palava Hut Awareness

approach to provide basic GBV

prevention information to Church

Leaders and Imams.

Establish peer group watch teams

in Churches and Mosques

Strategic focus:

Reduce negative sentiment about

women and girls in churches and

mosques

Ensure that Christians and Muslims

understand the scriptures in terms

of women and children’s Rights.

Ensure that young Christian and

Muslim youths watch each other in

terms of violence against women.

Church, Para-

Church leaders, and

Imams

Community opinion

leaders (land lords,

youth and women

groups leaders)

Grand Bassa

Sinoe

Rivercess

Margibi

Montserrado

Traditional

Women

Network

Provide Economic Empowerment

to female Traditional leaders Zoes

for alternative livelihood

Strategic focus:

Reduction of forced Sande initiation

Influential

traditional Lead

female zoes (30)

Traditional women

and men leaders

10 Counties of

Liberia( 200

zoes as target)

Bomi

Capemount


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(especially with non practicing

persons)

Ensure Sande cite is far from city

centers

Ensure Sande do not interfere with

academic school period

(chiefs and elders)

as advisors

Ministry of Internal

Affairs

Gbarpolu

Lofa

Montserrado

Bong

Margibi

Grand Bassa

Nimba

Rivercess

Liberia

Media for

Democratic

Initiatives

(LMDI)

Community (Outreach) Interactive

Dialogue Forums and Focus Group

Discussions

Media Content Production and airing

nationwide.

In-field Simple English interpretation

and translation

Strategic Focus---Awareness on

current rape laws and on what

steps communities should take to

prevent GBV in their communities

45 National and Rural Community Radios

Local Community Leaders

Ministry of Gender and Development MoGD.

MoGD GBV Observatory in rural communities

Youths

Elders

Women

Religious leaders

Community

Outreach---

Bomi

Gbah

Klay

Margibi—

Kakata

Wealla

Montserrado

Bernard’s Farm

Fiamah

Market/Aries

Touching

Humanity In

Need of

Kindness

(THINK), Inc.

Specifically targeting members of

communities training them to become

partners in preventing GBV; Religious

and Community Leaders, Men and

Boys, students and out of school youth

Community networks (15 persons per group) set up in the communities where many SGBV cases come from

Key Hole, Peace Island, Gorbachop, Duport Road, Zubah Town, Montserrado County


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Using interactive Radio Talk shows for

greater interaction from wider

community

Promoting “One Stop Facilities” to

prevent teenage pregnancy, infections

as a consequence of rape

Engage with “Zoes”, in Bahn, Nimba

County

Drop-In Centre for Girls aged 6 – 18

years that provides a safe space for

vulnerable girls to learn life skills and

acquire basic literacy and numeracy

skills for a period of nine months

THINK Empowerment and

Rehabilitation Home to address

vulnerability and prevent future

violence

Target Children on ‘Good Touch and

Bad Touch’, the Buddy system, girls

wearing shorts under their clothes to

make it harder for perpetrators and the

power of shouting

Police (WACPS)

Central Monrovia, Montserrado

Kakata and Smell No Taste, Margibi County

Rural Liberia in collaboration with MOHSW

MOH/SW

and partners

Health

Prevent Teenage pregnancy, and

infections as a consequence of rape in

all referral hospitals in the country

Awareness in the out patient

departments of each health facility

Establish ONE STOP FACILITIES to

promote access to legal and protection

services this should impact prosecution

of cases and deter future perpetrators

Awareness raising at Community levels

and schools

Redemption Hospital

James Davis Memorial Hospital

WANEP/WIPNET

THINK

CEP

County Health and social welfare Teams

Montserrado county

Redemption( Bushrod Island, Brewerville, Caldwell etc.)

JDJ ( Somalia drive Paynesville Red-light, Johnsonville etc)

WANEP/WIPNET


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Suggestion boxes ( Speak to Aunty) in

school after awareness raising

Consultations with community leaders

Promos/ jingles on the prevention of

rape

Dramatization on the prevention of

rape shown on television

Working with community youth groups

(CHSWTs) / Hope for women International Hospital(Paynesville, Duazon-Lower Margibi, etc)

THINK/Duport Road Health Center(Paynesville and its surroundings)

CEP (Todee District, Peace Island, Congo Town)

CHSWTs ( Bong, Bomi, Margibi, Cape Mount)

Helping Our

People Excel

Inc

The mission of H.O.P.E., Inc. is to

empower the Liberian people through

socio-economic programs and

community-based initiatives.

Strategic Focus- to bring community

members and key institutions together

to create solutions to social issues, with

special focus on Women and children

Reach Vulnerable Groups, with

special focus on Women and

Children

Connect Communities to Services,

Resources and Opportunities

Capacity Building for Partners and

Beneficiaries

International

UNFPA

UNICEF

International Health Programs, Adolescent Girls Advocacy Leadership Initiative (AGALI)

National

Ministry of Gender and Development

Ministry of Heath and Social Welfare

Ministry of Education

The Child Representative Forum

Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties

Sister with Power: Girls Empowerment Program in 3 communities in Montserrado and 1 community in Grand Bassa Counties

Girls Advocacy Forum

HOPE Football Club: Boys Mentoring Program in 3


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Build Local, National & International

partnerships

Implement National-level Advocacy

Strategies

of Liberia

Networks

Child Justice Network

Adolescent Girls Working Group

Child Protection Network

Local

Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness Inc.

Youth For Development and Empowerment

Paramount Young Women Initiate (PAYOWI)

Association for the Advancement of Liberian Girls (AALG)

communities in Montserrado County

My Sisters Keeper Project

Community

Empowerme

nt Program

(CEP), Inc

Focus on promoting community

involvement , particularly males in the

fight against SGBV

Establishment and empowerment of

Men’s GBV Palaver Prevention Forums

–


Community Listening and Youth Clubs

to create awareness on SGBV

prevention and report cases of GBV to

the police deports within their

communities


United Women for Empowerment, Neezoe Community

Wise Men’ GBV Palaver Prevention Forum, Smell-No Taste

Kukatornor Organization, Peter’s Town

Concerned Women and Women for Development, Dolo’s Town

Community

Soul Clinic Community, New Kaymah Town, Peace Island, Nyen Town,Todee District, Neezoe, all of which are in Montserrado County; and

Congo Town, Cotton Tree, Dolo’s Town, Peter’s Town, Smell-No- Taste, all of which are in Margibi County


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anti-GBV community theaters to create

awareness on GBV through drama

performances

Empowerment of GBV survivors with

skills training integrated with life skills

education, adult literacy, Basic Business

Management and ST/HIV/AIDS

prevention friendly sessions.

inspirational/sermonic presentation on

GBV prevention in school classes or

during worship service

Produce SGBV prevention

reinforcement IEC/BCC messages i.e.

calendars, stickers, rubber bracelets,

cups

Facilitate Radio Talk shows for youth

and Listening Club members

Negotiate with cell phone companies in

Liberia for selected supervisory

personnel to participate in SGBV

Prevention training

Empowerment Marketing Association, Soul Clinic Community

Cotton Tree Men’s GBV Palaver Prevention Forum

Ministry of

Health and

Social

Welfare

Psychosocial

Social Change(root causes)

Action to influence changes in

knowledge, attitudes, behavior in the

community

Problem-Solving (secondary causes)

Action to address the specific context,

situation, environment

Development of positive replacement

behavioral for individual and

community

Mens groups

Community psychosocial networks

MOHSW community health workers

Monserrado, Bassa, Bong, Nimba, Cape Mount and Margibi


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Direct prevention activities towards

potential perpetrators, potential

survivors and those who may assist

them.

Public awareness and advocacy

Community prevention and

intervention strategies

Talks in schools and churches

Speak to families to help them

understand and address negative

gender and social norms that lead to

violence against women and Girls

Target and raise awareness among

administrators of the traditional and

customary legal systems on laws and

judgements–in the direction of

encouraging change.

Servants of

All Prayer

Assembly

(SOAP)

To transform men’s negative behavior

towards women and girls into positive

attitudes and actions :

Organize community dialogues with

men and boys on GBV

Organize men’s forum to discuss the

root causes of rape, and possible

solutions

Conduct outreach to inform and

educate students on GBV

Hold meetings with religious leaders to

include GBV in their theology

Develop anti GBV songs, messages and

dramas

UN Women

International Rescue Committee

Danish Refugee Council

Montserrado County ( 5 communities)

Margibi County (2 communities)

Grand Bassa County ( 3 communities)

Gbarpolu County (1 community)

Lofa County (10 communities)

Nimba County (13 communities)


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Hold consultation meetings with

women and girls

Target groups:

Community men and boys Community leaders Religious leaders Men and boys from different backgrounds Students Women and girls

ChildrenSmile

Humanitaria

n Network,

Inc.

and

Developmen

t Education

Network-

Liberia

(DEN-L)

Functional peace huts and

empowerment centers as a mechanism

to prevent GBV in communities:

Dialogues and training with local and

religious leaders, community men,

young people to speak out and support

efforts to prevent violence against

women;

Dialogues and training with LNP and

other security personnel to improve the

security of women;

Assessment of GBV status in

communities;

Training of community women in GBV

and peace building as a strategy to

identify and support GBV Survivors;

Peer-learning to share experience

amongst project beneficiaries.

Economic Empowerment of women to

build up their confidence and decrease

their vulnerability to GBV:

Establishment of Village Savings & Loan

County Gender Coordinators

Government line Ministries

County Superintendents and local leaders

Religious leaders

National Traditional Council

Africare-Liberia, ActionAid, NAEL, Educare

UN Women, UNMIL

Peace Council

Totota, Bong County

Konia, Lofa County

Weala & Schefflin, Margibi County

Baccoline, Grand Bassa County

Tiapa, Nimba County

Zai Town, Grand Gedeh

Cestos City Morweh, Rivercess County

Mawaquelle, Gyanimah & Henry Town, Gbarpolu County

Karwaykah, River Gee


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Associations (VS&LA) in the

communities and training for women

in the VS&LA methodology;

Empowerment of women in cross

border trade through creation of

networks, training, construction of

warehouses, development of

fundraising strategies;

Adult literacy training for women.

MBL Intl

Group

In football the 12th Man are the fans

that support the teams and for GBV the

12th Man are the men who stand up to

end all violence against women

The 12th Man – My sisters Keeper

Using men as ambassadors to end

violence against women

National Campaign

“Her Story is my story”

Our strategy is to create creative ways to engage the communities..

TOOLS:

Radio Show Movie Nights Competitions Featured 12 Man men( a variety of men from different walks of life who will become the faces of The campaign ( special criteria for selection) Engaging the religious houses ( churches , Mosques) Bus Stops T shirts

SOAP

THINK

ACTION AID

YOUTH GROUPS

RiverCess: Boegeesay Town

River Gee: Killepo Karnweaken Town

Gbarpolu:Gaynimah Town

Bopulu

Margibi Weala Gbengben Town

Grand Bassa

Montserrado (Red Light/New Kru Town)


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Calendars Social media events

The CARTER

CENTER

Strategy is to work at Community level

with:

Women and men separately and

together; chiefs; teenagers in schools;

children b/w ages 7-10; churches and

mosques; teachers and school

authorities; other officials.

Focus of awareness in these groups will

be on:

existing statistics

consequences

tell tale signs of impending

abuses/danger (children & teen-agers)

reporting and compromise

coping with abuses to avoid

reoccurrences

Partners include:

traditional Leaders (chiefs, women and youth)

JPC

GBV task force, including officials and police

other institutions working on GBV issues

medical institutions

existing community groups

Bong

Montserrado

Nimba

Lofa

Grand Gedeh

Bassa

UNICEF &

Partners

Strategic focus – prevent violence

against children (VAC) including GBV

Work with community based child

protection structures (CWCs) and

MoGD Children’s Division and Child

Wellbeing Officers (MoGD-Children’s

Division)

Prevention and reporting of SEA in

schools (MoGD-GBV UNIT& Children’s

Division)

Ministry of Gender and Development

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Youth and Sports

Ministry of Justice /LNP/WACPS

Media outreach – countrywide

Mobilizing faith based groups and religious leaders –Rural Montserrado, Grand Gedeh and Sinoe Counties

Community and school outreach


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Promoting non-violence and protection

of children through religious messages

and services (Inter-Religious Council of

Liberia)

Main elements

Continued/up-scaled work with

religious and traditional leaders

Sara communication initiative – comic

book targeting children and young

people

Community and school outreach with

Takun J and LNP/WACPS

Institutionalizing “buddy system” and

child protection mechanisms in

targeted schools

Inter-Religious Council of Liberia

Media Impact

Children’s National Representative Forum

Child Protection Network

National GBV Task Force

UN agencies and GBV Joint Programme

with Takun J and LNP/WACPS/Community police – countrywide – districts with highest level of incidence as major target

Wise groups Men’s

group Religious

leaders Traditional

leaders Radio talk

shows/listening

clubs

Community groups

women/men/youth/leaders Schools Women’s

groups Community

Dialogues Economic

empowerment

5. Conclusion from Presentations The presentations made by the different actors clearly indicate that the focus of prevention means empowering and creating awareness in the communities, schools and different institutions on the issue of violence, especially rape, in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the phenomenon. Even the best and most comprehensive response to cases of GBV cannot eliminate the emotional trauma and the physical damage suffered by the survivor and restore him/her to their prior well-being status. Hence the importance of effective preventive strategies is recognized by all partners present attending the workshop. However it was amply clear from the various presentations that the focus of awareness with different stakeholders including, discussions on radios, jingles are aimed at responding to rape once it occurs. For example; what should a survivor do if raped- report to the hospital within 72 hours / Rape is a crime under the Law report it/ Do not compromise cases/ stop rape etc. This strategy is extremely important to


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ensure the survivor receives the much needed medical and psychosocial care, and also prevent pregnancy and HIV/AIDS as a consequence of rape. The very high reporting to medical facilities clearly indicates that the response awareness has worked. Programming for 2014 is an opportunity to revise focus from not just response to but also prevention of rape, use a coordinated approach with identified stakeholders and demarcate clear areas of work by different agencies based on their core competency. The slide below captures the essence of PREVENTION.

Every Liberian should ‘shout’ till the lion runs away!


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6. strategy is extremely important to ensure the survivor receives the much needed medical and psychosocial care, and also prevent pregnancy and HIV/AIDS as a consequence of rape. The very high reporting to medical facilities clearly indicates that the response awareness has worked.

7. Programming for 2014 is an opportunity to revise focus from not just response to but also

prevention of rape, use a coordinated approach with identified stakeholders and demarcate c

LMDI Radio Network

The information on LMDI radio network is being provided on the request of the participants

at the meeting to enable members to use radio services to disseminate prevention messages.

Common Prevention messages to be used for all stakeholders will be developed by the

MOGD in consultation with partners.


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6. Geographical Spread

Wise groups Men’s group Religious

leaders Traditional

leaders Radio talk

shows/listening

clubs

Community groups

women/men/youth Schools

/students/teachers Women’s

groups Community

Dialogues Economic

empowerment


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7. Recommendation for 2014 During the second half of the meeting, participants were divided into groups to brainstorm on existing strategies that are working based on their own experiences and presentations made by partners and propose key prevention strategies for 2014 and new strategies that need to be coordinated and adopted countrywide. 2014 Prevention Strategy should target children: all prevention strategies for 2014 should target children in terms of their protection and involvement into program activities. For example, audio prevention messages should involve the voices of children, etc. Sensitization of parents on good parenting and involvement of schools and teachers should be part of the strategy.

Continuous dialogue with communities (leaders): GBV actors should continue to involve communities through continuous dialogue and information sharing and dissemination.

Male role models: working with men (peer to peer sensitization) and male role models should be continued.

Psycho-social counseling: potential perpetrators (especially young men with aggressive behaviors) should receive psycho-social counseling to learn how to deal with anger and frustrations in a positive way.

Use of statistics during awareness rising: During community dialogues and other community sensitization and awareness rising, GBV actors must consistently use available statistics of rape and sexual abuse because not many are aware of the level of sexual abuse of children in the country.

Engaging influential religious and traditional leaders: the MOGD and partners must continue to engage religious and traditional leaders. In 2014, the Ministry should engage key influential religious leaders (ex; heads of Church Conventions/Conferences/Islamic Organizations, etc.) who have the authority to call on pastors of their Churches and imams of various Mosques to dedicate a Sunday or Friday each quarter to speak on rape/sexual violence.

Use GBV IEC materials more aggressively: The Ministry of Gender and Development and its partners must ensure that GBV IEC materials are visible in every public place including ministries and agencies, streets corners, restaurants, entertainment centers, buses, and schools, public and private toilets etc. The messages should be agreed upon and harmonized among all partners in order to make them more effective.


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Engage Pen-pen riders: Pen-pen, the local transportation has become a means used by perpetrators of rape and sexual violence in recent times. A prevention strategy in 2014, must engage the leadership of the pen-pen riders union to use them as agents of change and to disseminate GBV messages to their colleagues ad involving them in GBV programs and activities.

Engage Cell Phone Companies to disseminate short prevention of rape messages: 85% of the total Liberian population owns a cell phone, to adequately convey anti- rape messages, Cell Phone companies should be engaged as a part of their social corporate responsibility to allow short anti-rape messages to be played before a subscriber’s call goes through or before a subscriber receives a call. By doing this it is expected that a large portion of the Liberian population will be sensitive to rape and will be aware of the impact and consequence of rape. Immediate Actions: Media, flash board, concerted efforts through churches and mosques, sports, documentary

video preview, dedicated radio programs

Common key messages to be developed, disseminated and used by all partners countrywide for radio, papers, television, cell phone companies

All prevention strategies will use updated data on rape to reinforce the extent of the problem and the need to protect children

One GBV Prevention network Google group Liberia to share information regularly

Organize Public outcry countrywide under the leadership of the MOGD

Engage cell phone companies immediately to disseminate prevention messages

gbv prevention strategy meeting report preventive... · gbv prevention strategy meeting report 2013...

Documents