Violence Against Women
Report gathered by this paper says over 2,000 cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) have occurred nation-wide during the period January to October 2011. The report, which was compiled by the Ministry of Gender and Development, is released at a time the nation is joining other countries around the world to celebrate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, which runs from November 25, 2011 through December 10, 2011. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
According to the Ministry of Gender and Development's report covering the period January to October 2011, the total GBV cases reported here amount to 2,043.
The report reveals that during the period under review, a total of 39 cases of various forms of GBV occurred in Bomi County, 92 cases in Bong County, 60 cases in Grand Bassa County, 135 cases in Margibi County and 31 cases in Maryland County.
The report names other counties and the rate at which various forms of GBV occurred in the country as: Montserrado County, 1,280 cases; Nimba County, 121 cases; River Gee County, 12 cases; Grand Kru County, 11 cases and Grand Gedeh County, 2 cases.
The rest of the counties with report of occurrences of GBV, according to the report, are: Rivercess County, 12 cases; Sinoe County, 34 cases; Lofa County, 77 cases; Gbarpolu County, 43 cases and Grand Cape Mount County, 45 cases.
The report, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper details that there were 82 cases of gang rape, 143 cases of other forms of rape and 1,167 cases of statutory rape reported during the period under review.
Accordingly, the report adds that from January to October 2011, there were 119 cases of sexual assault, 5 cases of sexual abuse, 376 cases of domestic violence and 37 cases of abandonment among others.
