Scanning the 'World Around' - Liberia

Liberia as a signatory of most of the international Human Rights treaties recognizes gender violence as an obstruction and a socio-economic barrier to women and girls’ progress. Article 11(b) of Chapter 3 in the Constitution of Liberia provides for entitlement of the fundamental rights and freedoms for all regardless of race, sex, place of origin etc.

In 2005, the Liberian legislature passed a ‘rape law’ that expanded the definition of rape and set harsh penalties for sexual assault. This was publicized through the mainstream media by the Ministry of Justice and NGOs used social and traditional media to disseminate this information to communities. However, cases of violence has still increased, perpetuated by gender norms, poor judicial systems and lack of political will as highlighted in this analysis. 

The National Gender Policy of Liberia, an instrument that was developed by government Ministries and Agencies, public and private institutions, women‘s NGOs, religious leaders, cultural leaders, Persons with Disabilities, Persons living with HIV and Aids, the national legislature, media practitioners, other civil society organizations, youth and community based organizations at nationwide, was purposely to break barriers and promote sustainable development for both men and women. Despite the commitment, women and girls still experience violence, including sexual violence based on their gender.

According to the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey conducted by Liberia Institute of Statistics and Ge-Information Services in 2020, and shared to the general public through radio, newspapers, booklets, 60% of women aged 15-19 Years have experienced physical violence and 9% specifically experienced sexual violence in Liberia. Globally, UNFPA reports that 1 in 4 women in the world have experienced sexual violence from current partner while 1 in every 15 women experience rape by a non partner.

During the Covid19 pandemic, a total of 992 rape cases were reported. It is likely that more cases were not reported while others were settled at the family level. The president made his commitment to establish a national security task force on sexual and gender based violence. Reporting systems needs improvement

Most violence cases are not concluded, survivors get threatened while others are paid off not to report to authorities. For example a UN report in 2016 recorded 803 rape cases the previous year (2015) in Liberia and only 2% of these cases led to conviction. With improved reporting systems, more women and girls will sought help. A UNFPA report document to the world indicates that, 42% of violence survivors have sought help while 48% of them have never sought any help. Others seek help from family members and in most cases don’t get justice.

Liberia: here i Come

The excitement for my journey to Liberia started from home, where i invited friends, on Friday 8th December 2012, to come for a 'farewel party' as we call it, when someone is travelling abroad for quite a long time. Family and friends attended and i was showered with words of encouragement and caution from those who spoke in the small function. I was really encouraged, and tears were almost dropping as i imagined leaving behind friends and family members i have been used to. I couldnt imagine how life would in a foreign country, where you dont know anybody, but i believed i will have a great time, working with AtionAid Liberia as an Inspirator.

The next morning was my traveling date and all was set. Everything was packed, ready for the trip. by 6.30pm, the Taxi man, Adam, who is a great friend of mine arrived and we were all set for the airport. I was accompanied by my mother, Auntie and brother. Within 45 minutes we were at the airport and i immediately checked in. After checking in, i got to the lounge. People were there, some sleeping on the chairs, others moving around in the Duty free shops to buy stuff, others did some window shopping and as for me, i took my sit and was relaxed.

After a few minutes, i checked on the schedule screen, and was shocked. The flight to Monrovia had been delayed, from 9.30 to 12.45pm, this got people worried and everyone went to enquire on whats up. the plane scheduled for Monrovia had some mechanical issues, so we had to be given another. However, this did not discourage me in any way.

At 1300 hrs, a call was made for us to board the plane and one could see the relief in peoples faces, everyone took their bags and we were all set for the trip. Within half an hour, the plane was in the air, heading to Accra then Monrovia. Everything was usual in the plane, you know...lunch drinks and all stuff that happens there.

Our trip took approximately 4 hours to Accra, 45 minutes rest, then 1hr 30 min to Monrovia. Upon arrival, i was welcomed with smiles from ActionAid Liberia Staff, who were so friendly and excited to have us. We were 4 in total, we didnt know each other in the plane, until we were welcomed. We bought our sim cards, jumped in the AAL Landcruise and headed straight to the hotel. We checked in and got some time to freshen up. Within an hour we were done, and started moving around to get dinner. It was tough but fun experience, moving around, comparing the cost of meals. The cost varied, and communication was a bit challenging. They speak very fast with a strong voice and a strong dialect that we had to repeatedly say....'come again please', whenever we ordered or asked anything. We roamed for close to 45 minutes, and later on settled for a hotel, next to our guest rooms/hotel. We had our 6 dollar meals as we had a chat. It was amazing to find out that Liberia is a dual currency state, they use USD and LD(Liberty Dollar). You buy anything with USD, you are given your change in Liberty Dollars, so exciting and we had to be cateful. When we got our change, we did the calculations just to make sure its correct, and this was problematic to a point that we gave up.

Thereafter, we went to rest, in preparation for the weekend....

KINYAGO FIRE TRAGEDY

This picture was taken on the morning of 5th October 2012.

MY INTERNSHIP AT NCMH

PERSONAL PROFILE

Introduction

My name is Benjamin Sidori Ombiri, and currently am an intern at Nairobi Community Media House. I have a Diploma in Media Techniques, and before joining Nairobi Community Media House, I did freelance work in magazine publication as an editor and Community Participatory Theatre for social change, as an actor and a trainer.

 

Experience and Achievements in Nairobi Community Media House

Since I joined the media house in February, I have gained a lot of experience in camera work, editing, reporting and scripting among others. I have also gained confidence both in the field and back in the studio, thanks to the entire staff, as they have always encouraged and assisted me, whenever  a challenge came up.

My opinions and contributions have also been appreciated during meetings and when doing clustering, and this has really boosted my self-esteem.

In that period, I have also participated fully in production of two journals; Maternal Love and another on Water and Sanitation and this is the biggest achievement  for me.

Expectations

While in Nairobi Community Media House, I expect to learn more on production and also to put more input to ensure that the company’s goals and objectives are achieved and that the company grows to be one of the best in Africa.

Training Experience in Dar (MS TCDC)

By Benjamin Sidori Ombiri

(7^TH NOVEMBER 2011 –TO- 2^ND DECEMBER 2011)

When I enrolled for the Leadership and Management at MS TCDC, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I was optimistic that it would be beneficial to me and more so to my organization (KAPLEN) and this has been achieved. My expectation in this training was to acquire more skills and insights on proper leadership skills and how to come up with an effective management structure in the organization.

First we were able to define what leadership and management is and how it emerges in an organization. As participants we had an opportunity to share our leadership experiences and this inspired me, because I was able to learn from my fellow participants (from Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) on how their organizational structures are. Through the experience sharing, it was noted that most of us did not know our organizational structures well enough, so the training was an eye opener. Through the facilitation and sharing, I was able to identify some of the loopholes in my organization and how to address.

Through case studies, I was able to know what leadership entails. For example, we watched several short documentaries and read texts on leadership and activism. In the short videos, we were able to see how social movements have been effective for social change, for example the ‘bus boycott’ in USA (Rosa Park’s story), the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations and the Arab Revolution.

The Training for Change manager, Peter, also gave a talk and pointed the difference between a leader and a manager. He said that a leader is more into decision making process and responsibilities, but a manager more or less looks at the machineries or strategies or frameworks on how to achieve a vision. Philip, a volunteer at Kigamboni Community Centre, from Zimbabwe also shared on leadership and governance. He pointed the need to be accountable as leaders and that as youths we should reclaim that power. We also had a Skype discussion with Morten, from Afrika Kontact, Denmark, who shared about social movements. He pointed out that a leader should be loyal in order to get supporters and urged that as youth organizations we should not only have political struggles, but also community struggles for development. He added that, just like organizations, social movements should have a shared vision.

As participants, we also got a chance to visit organizations; Kigamboni Community Center, Kigamboni and Youth Partnership Countrywide, Kibaha. Here we learnt about volunteerism and also management. I got to understand how the volunteers work, the challenges and the management structures of the two organizations.

With the skills I acquired, I have been able to share it with my fellow members and we have tried to streamline the organization governance structures. We have been able to incorporate leadership trainings on the organization’s action plan, so that as we get empowered as an organization, we also build the capacity of the community on leadership for social change, from local to global level.

I express my appreciation to our facilitators, Emmanuel Kamwi and Eric Crispin for their efforts to ensure we understood and for making the training as participatory as possible. I also appreciate fellow participants from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, for sharing ideas on how we can develop as youth leaders and promote social change. Appreciation also extends to the Camp Manager, Isabella, for opportunity to participate in the training. Aluta continua.

Benjamin Sidori

Kamukunji Paralegal Network Association

Nairobi, Kenya

http://www.myactivista.org/group/activistakenya

http://www.myactivista.org/group/activistakenya

Women raise voices of peace (2008)

Around 100 displaced women from the Nairobi slums met to raise their voices on the current crisis in Kenya during an event organized by MS Kenya partner PeaceNet

By Benjamin Sidori and Morten Bonde Pedersen

22. January 2008

Jamuhuri Park in Nairobi is one of the places where people have taken refuge after the post election violence that broke out in Kenya on 30^th December.

According to media reports around 3000 people have been staying in the park, surviving on relief food provided by the Kenya Red Cross. Most of them have fled their homes in Kibera, Kenyas largest slum and one of the epicenters for violence during the conflict.

Essential voices
Friday January 18^th MS Kenya partner PeaceNet was able to mobilize around a hundred women to share their feelings, how it has been for them and how they think peace and justice can be achieved.

According to PeaceNet it is essential to give the women space to raise their voices.Taking into consideration that women form more than 52% of the Kenyan population, their involvement is paramount towards promoting a sustainable culture of peace. There is therefore a need for their voices to be heard and their involvement sought in using their experiences, talents and potentials right from the grassroots to the national level of the Kenyan society.

Two tribal groups
Women from both sides of the conflict were present although they did not want to sit together. In stead two groups, almost equal in size were sitting with some meters between them, one consisting of mainly Luos and Luhyas, the main tribes backing the opposition. The other group consisted of Kikuyus and their political allies for long, the Kamba.

The Kikuyu/Kamba group mainly spoke in the Kikuyu language. The other group mainly talked in Kiswahili which is understood my almost all Kenyans. Hence MS Kenya had a chance to listen in.

In the group the women talked of how they had to run for their safety with their children. “We voted because its our right nd we also wanted a change, but if this is the outcome then we won’t vote next time,” one of the women said.

Lost everything
Several of the women had small businesses which were destroyed by fire alongside their houses.

“We had properties but now we are living as refugees in our own country. Some of us are here and our husbands are out in the streets and we’re not sure whether they are dead, injured or alive,” said another woman.

Despite having a place to call home temporarily, the ‘refugees’ are faced with different problems at the camp. There’s insufficient food, clothing and blankets. Some of the women have young children who need special care while others need medical attention. There are also school going children who haven’t reported back.

Can not see a future
However, the women are also worried because they don’t know how they’ll start all over again even after the crisis is solved.
The women advocated for dialogue between the government and the opposition to stop the fights and that they be given loans to restart their businesses. Others proposed for re-election. They insisted that we should live as brothers and sisters and pray for peace and justice to take its course.

Moved to the other side
After having talked for a good hour the session came to a end and one of the Kikuyu ladies chose to make a statement by moving to the other side. Although she had the courage to make the move she was not embraced by the group. In stead she was seated with some space between herself and the others.

However the lady, whose name is Jane Njoki, said she wanted to state that all of the women were Kenyans regardless of their tribal belonging.
“We’ve been living together as one tribe, why should we fight now?” she stated.

“Let’s respect other people’s right to support a party because Kenya is a multi-party state.

Here at the camp, life is also difficult because we don’t get everything we need as women. Sometimes we miss food and other necessities like sanitary towels.

The leaders should sit together, just like they do in parliament, and solve this crisis before it gets worst.”

Jane Njoki says she used to do business in Kibera selling charcoal and vegetables.

“This business assisted me to pay rent and to feed my two children, one of them being epileptic. Now I can’t support them because I have nothing, the business premises and the house were burned down completely as a result of the post-election violence,” she said.

To have lost a business is a tragedy. But unfortunately some of the women gathered have not only lost property. 30 year old Dorothy Awuor, is even worse of having lost her loved ones.

She was in her house in Kibera on the 30^th, the evening when Mwai Kibaki was declared president.

“Suddenly I saw some neighboring houses burning. I ran outside too see what had happened. Then I turned around and saw our own house on fire. My husband and little child were in there, but I could do nothing. I had to run for my life. When I came back only ashes were left ad I do not know what happened to them. It is so painful, and I don’t know what I’ll do now. I don’t know where to go and how to survive,” she tells.

Although she’s a Luo she does not blame the rivaling Kikuyu community for what happened to her loved ones.

“I think the houses were torched by gang, groups of young men, probably Luos or Luhyas who were just angry and wanted to take their issues out on what ever property they came across’” shes says.

Today, Wednesday 23th of January, the displaced people of Jamhuri Park have been told to leave the camp and move back to where they came from. On this page we will try to follow the destiny of some of the women who appear in this articles.