Source: allAFrica.com
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says "Crimes against women are still under-reported in too many parts of the world." She made the assertions in Oslo, Norway Saturday, December 10, 2011, when she delivered a lecture at occasion marking the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to her.

The Liberian leader jointly won the 2012 version of the internationally acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize with fellow Liberian peace campaigner, Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni female journalist and rights activist Tawakkol Karman, "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace building work."

Speaking further at the occasion, President Johnson-Sirleaf stated that she was aware that there exist enormous challenges, adding that laws crafted for the protection of women's rights are under-enforced in many parts of the world.

Hear the Liberian leader: "The number of our sisters and daughters of all ages brutally defiled over the past two decades staggers the imagination."

She hastened to add that the number of lives devastated by such evil against women around the world defiles human comprehension.

"Although international tribunals have correctly declared that rape, used as a weapon of war, is a crime against humanity, rapes in times of lawlessness continue unabated," President Johnson-Sirleaf pointed out.

She further pointed out: "There is no doubt that the madness that wrought untold destruction in recent years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Rwanda, in Sierra Leone, in Sudan, in Somalia, in the former Yugoslavia, and in my own Liberia, found its expression in unprecedented levels of cruelty directed against women."

President Johnson-Sirleaf, who dedicated her speech to women who according to her have seen the devastation of that merciless violence can bring, regardless of the women's nationality, color, religion, or their station in life, lamented that: "Through the mutilation of our bodies and the destination of our ambitions, women and girls have disproportionately paid the price of domestic and international armed conflict. We have paid in the currencies of blood, of tears, of dignity."

She underscored the need to defend women's rights, stressing that "The need to defend the rights of women is not limited to the battlefield, and the threats to those rights do not emanate only from armed conflict."

She intimated that girl's education in the world over was still under-funded and under-staffed, adding that "Too often girls are disadvantaged from pursuing an academic training, no matter how promising they may be."

However, the Liberian chief executive observed that there is yet an occasion for hope and optimism around the world, stressing that "There are good signs of progress and change."

"Today, across the globe, women, and also men from all walks of life are finding the courage to say, loudly and firmly, in a thousand languages, "No more."

She used the occasion to urge women and men world-wide not to be afraid in denouncing injustice, adding that "Though you may be outnumbered, be not afraid to seek peace, even if your voice may be small. Be not afraid to demand peace."

"We need our voices to be heard. Find your voice! Raise your voice! Let yours be a voice for freedom," she among other things said.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says "Crimes against women are still under-reported in too many parts of the world."

She made the assertions in Oslo, Norway Saturday, December 10, 2011, when she delivered a lecture at occasion marking the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to her.

The Liberian leader jointly won the 2012 version of the internationally acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize with fellow Liberian peace campaigner, Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni female journalist and rights activist Tawakkol Karman, "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace building work."

Speaking further at the occasion, President Johnson-Sirleaf stated that she was aware that there exist enormous challenges, adding that laws crafted for the protection of women's rights are under-enforced in many parts of the world.

Hear the Liberian leader: "The number of our sisters and daughters of all ages brutally defiled over the past two decades staggers the imagination."

She hastened to add that the number of lives devastated by such evil against women around the world defiles human comprehension.

"Although international tribunals have correctly declared that rape, used as a weapon of war, is a crime against humanity, rapes in times of lawlessness continue unabated," President Johnson-Sirleaf pointed out.

She further pointed out: "There is no doubt that the madness that wrought untold destruction in recent years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Rwanda, in Sierra Leone, in Sudan, in Somalia, in the former Yugoslavia, and in my own Liberia, found its expression in unprecedented levels of cruelty directed against women."

President Johnson-Sirleaf, who dedicated her speech to women who according to her have seen the devastation of that merciless violence can bring, regardless of the women's nationality, color, religion, or their station in life, lamented that: "Through the mutilation of our bodies and the destination of our ambitions, women and girls have disproportionately paid the price of domestic and international armed conflict. We have paid in the currencies of blood, of tears, of dignity."

She underscored the need to defend women's rights, stressing that "The need to defend the rights of women is not limited to the battlefield, and the threats to those rights do not emanate only from armed conflict."

She intimated that girl's education in the world over was still under-funded and under-staffed, adding that "Too often girls are disadvantaged from pursuing an academic training, no matter how promising they may be."

However, the Liberian chief executive observed that there is yet an occasion for hope and optimism around the world, stressing that "There are good signs of progress and change."

"Today, across the globe, women, and also men from all walks of life are finding the courage to say, loudly and firmly, in a thousand languages, "No more."

She used the occasion to urge women and men world-wide not to be afraid in denouncing injustice, adding that "Though you may be outnumbered, be not afraid to seek peace, even if your voice may be small. Be not afraid to demand peace."

"We need our voices to be heard. Find your voice! Raise your voice! Let yours be a voice for freedom," she among other things said.

 

• Liberia