LIBERIA SCORECARD ON THE MAPUTO PROTOCOL

Page 1

LIBERIA
SCORECARD

ON
THE

MAPUTO
PROTOCOL

2019

FOREWARD With
 collaborative
 e orts
 from
 line
 ministries
 and
 agencies
 from
 the
 government
of
the
Republic
of
Liberia
issues
around
gender
mainstreaming,
 gender
 inclusiveness
 and
 providing
 the
 civil
 space
 for
 women
 political
 participation
 which
 are
 vital
 of
 important
 and
 major
 inclusiveness
 of
 the
 government's
Pro-Poor
Agenda
for
Prosperity
and
Development.


 To
 ensure
 e ective
 CSOs
 collaborations
 and
 access
 to
 information
 the
 Youth
 Coalition
 for
 Education
 for
 Education
 in
 Liberia
 along
 with
 others
 CSOs
has
generated
information
that
have
been
translated
and
revealing
 the
 government
 performance
 shocking
 and
 inhuman
 treatments
 meted
 against
women
and
girls
in
Liberia. This
report
is
an
operation
document
that
mirrors
Liberia's
strengthen
and
 weaknesses
in
compliance
with
the
Maputo
Protocol
and
this
have
 examined
possible
new
ways
of
curbing
or
ending
the
menace.

 The
purpose
of
this
scorecard
is
to
ensure
that
the
government
of
Liberia
 follows
and
complies
with
articles
5,
6
&
13
of
the
Maputo
Protocol;
to
provide
 the
country's
assessment
scores,
outcomes
and
the
challenges
the
country
 is
faced
with
that
can
be
addressed
by
the
Liberian
government.
 Impressed
 by
 the
 overwhelming
 supports,
 level
 of
 commitment
 and
 collaboration
 from
 civil
 society
 most
 especially
 from
 YOCEL
 for
 the
 hard
 work
and
relentlessly
generating
this
report
to
assist
the
government
and
 the
public
in
championing
this
noble
fight.
 Special
 commendation
 goes
 to
 all
 stakeholders
 for
 their
 unflinching
 support
including
development
partners
to
the
government
of
Liberia,
the
 team
at
the
Ministry
of
Gender
and
on
behalf
of
the
Ministry
of
Gender
we
 are
confident
that
this
report
will
serve
as
an
e ective
guide
towards
our
 join
 e orts
 in
 sustaining
 the
 stronger
 partnership
 with
 civil
 society
 and
 ensuring
 that
 key
 recommendation
 from
 this
 report
 are
 used
 for
 policy
 actions.

Alice
Johnson
Howard

Deputy
Minister
for
Gender

 Ministry
of
Gender,
Children
and
Social
Protection,
Liberia

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

I

ACKNOWLEDGMENT The
 development
 of
 this
 report
 was
 made
 possible
 through
 the
 generous
 technical
and
financial
support
from
the
Forum
for
African
Women
Educationists
 (FAWE)
and
Plan
International
Africa
Liaison
O ce
under
the
Girls
Advocacy
 Alliance
 CSOs
 capacity
 building
 initiative.
 We
 particularly
 acknowledge
 the
 political
 commitment
 and
 support
 from
 Hon.
 Williametta
 E.
 Saydee-Tarr,
 Minister,
Ministry
of
Gender
Children
and
Social
Protection,
Juliet
Kimotho
from
 FAWE
 Regional
 Secretariat
 for
 their
 dedication
 and
 commitment
 in
 instilling
 professional
skills
to
the
sta 
of
YOCEL
for
their
tireless
e ort
in
making
this
a
 success.
 The
Youth
Coalition
for
Education
in
Liberia
-
YOCEL
would
like
to
extol
the
hard
 working
 volunteers
 for
 their
 commitment,
 passion
 and
 devotion
 during
 this
 process.
 This
 scorecard
 is
 the
 result
 of
 the
 collaborative
 e ort
 with
 the
 Government
of
the
Republic
of
Liberia
through
the
Ministry
of
Gender
Children
 and
Social
Protection,
Ministry
of
Education,
Ministry
of
Justice
SGBV
Crime
Unit,
 Liberia
 National
 Police,
 Ministry
 of
 Foreign
 A airs,
 Ministry
 of
 Labour,
 Independent
 National
 Human
 Right
 Commission
 and
 the
 Right
 Holders
 Network.

YOCEL
 management
 and
 team
 acknowledge
 in
 a
 special
 way
 Mr.
 M.
 Sahr
 Nouwah,
Chairman
of
the
Board
and
the
Board
of
Directors.

With
profound
dedication
we
acknowledge
Mr.
Anthony
Borlay,
Director
of
the
 Department
of
Planning,
Policy
and
Research
at
the
Ministry
of
Gender
Children
 and
Social
Protection
Hon.
Tonieh
Talery,
Wiles,
Commissioner,
Gender
Treaties
 and
 Human
 Rights,
 Independent
 National
 Human
 Rights
 Commission,
 Mrs.
 Patricia
 Togba,
 Technical
 Assistant
 Department
 of
 Planning,
 Policy
 and
 Research,
Ministry
of
Gender
Children
and
Social
Protection,
Hon.
Dominic
N.
 Kweme,
Assistant
Minister
for
Planning,
Research
and
Development,
Ministry
of
 Education,
Cllr.
John
A.A.
Gabriel
Director
SGBV
Crime
Unit
Ministry
of
Justice
 and
 Hawa
 Kenneth,
 Head
 of
 the
 Adolescent
 Girls
 Department,
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
Children
and
Social
Protection
who
took
time
from
their
busy
schedule
 to
contribute
to
the
development
of
this
scorecard.
 Distinct
gratitude
to
Mr.
Francis
Kempeh
who
served
as
the
lead
consultant
in
 the
development
of
this
report.

Finally
we
highly
appreciate
the
collaboration
from
Civil
Society,
Development
 Partners
and
lines
ministries
and
agencies
for
their
continuous
support.

Liberia
ScoreCard





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Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

II

TABLE
OF
CONTENTS

Foreword.....................................................................................I

Acknowledgment...................................................................II

Acronyms....................................................................................III

Background..............................................................................IV Methodology............................................................................V

Legal
Ramification................................................................VI

Legal
Instruments..................................................................VII

YOCEL's
in
Brief........................................................................VIII Article
5:
Elimination
of
Harmful
Practices..................1 

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
 

Assessment

Article
5..........................................37

Areas
for
Future
Advocacy..............................40

Article
6:
Rights
to
Marriage.............................................41 

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
 

Assessment

Article
6.........................................57

Areas
for
Future
Advocacy..............................60

Article
12:
Rights
to
Education
&
Training...................65 

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
 

Assessment

Article
12........................................69

Areas
for
Future
Advocacy..............................70

Conclusion................................................................................71

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2018

ACRONYMS
 YOCEL
 
 MoGCSP
 
 MFA
 
 
 WONGOSOL

 PC
 
 
 LCRF
 
 
 FLY
 
 
 DWA
 
 
 LDHS
 
 
 DVA
 
 
 LNCD

 
 MOL
 
 
 LNPWCD

-
 -

 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -

Youth
Coalition
for
Education
in
Liberia
 Ministry
of
Gender
Children
and
Social
Protection
 Ministry
of
Foreign
A air
 Women
NGO
Secretariat Penal
Code Liberia
Children
Representative
Forum
 Federation
of
Liberian
Youth
 Decent
Work
Act
 Liberia
Democratic
Health
Survey
 Domestic
Violence
Act
 Liberia
National
Commission
on
Disabilities
 Ministry
of
Labour
 Liberia
National
Police
Women
and
Children

-
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 _

Independent
National
Human
Right
Commission
 Education
Reform
Act
 Ministry
of
Youth
and
Sports Technical
Vocational
Education
and
Training Department
of
Labour
Standard

 Revenue
Generation
Governance
and
Growth
 Civil
Society
Organization

Division
 INHRC

 ERA
 
 MoYS
 
 TVET
 
 DLS
 
 Rg3
 
 CSO

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

III

BACKGROUND

Over
 the
 last
 decade,
 Africa
 has
 witnessed
 a
 t re m e n d o u s 
 wa ve 
 of
 human
 rights
 violations
 against
women,
girls
and
 children
 with
 potential
 trends
 to
 Gender
 Based
 Violence.
 One
 in
 every
 t h r e e 
 w o m e n 
 w i l l
 experience
 physical
 or
 sexual
 violence
 during
 their
lifetime.
 T h e 
 P ro to c o l 
 to 
 t h e
 A f r i c a n 
 C h a r t e r 
 o n
 H u m a n 
 a n d 
 Pe o p l es'
 Rights
 on
 the
 Rights
 of
 Women
 in
 Africa
 was
 originally
adopted
by
the
 “Assembly
 of
 the
 African
 Union”
during
the
second
 s u m m i t 
 i n 
 M a p u t o ,
 Mozambique
 on
 July
 11,
 2003.
 The
 Protocol
 is
 commonly
 and
 widely
 been
 referred
 to
 as
 the
 Maputo
 Protocol.
 Liberia
 signed
unto
the
protocol
 th on
the
10 
day
of
October
 2004
and
ratified
without
 reservations
 the
 Maputo
 Protocol
ten
years
ago
on
 th the
16 
days
of
December
 2008.

In
 Liberia
 Gender
 Based
 Violence
(GBV)
remains
a
 m a j o r 
 t h re a t 
 to 
 t h e
 security
 of
 women
 and
 children
 throughout
 the
 country
and
the
arrival
of
 Covid-19
 have
 worsen
 the
situation.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Despite
the
many
milestones
in
various
areas
such
 as
 legislation,
 the
 country
 still
 faces
 serious
 challenges
in
ensuring
that
the
human
rights
of
its
 citizens
 are
 protected.
 Ending
 violence
 against
 women
and
girls
in
Liberia
has
been
on
the
political
 agenda
 for
 decades
 and
 gained
 more
 visibility
 after
Liberia's
14-year
civil
conflict
partly
due
to
the
 civil
 society's
 and
 international
 partners'
 work
 on
 violence
 against
 women.
 Since
 then,
 significant
 e orts
 have
 been
 made
 by
 the
 government,
 international
 partners
 and
 the
 civil
 society
 to
 influence
a
change
in
the
systems
that
perpetuate
 violence
against
women.

Violence
against
women
and
girls
has
been
deeply
 entrenched
 in
 Liberia's
 social
 and
 cultural
 landscape
 and
 remains
 a
 much-debated
 topic
 politically.
It
was
rampant
during
the
nearly
14
years
 of
 civil
 crisis
 that
 Liberia
 experienced
 in
 which
 Gender
 Based
 Violence
 was
 accepted
 an
 inseparable
 part
 of
 the
 conflict
 and
 used
 as
 a
 weapon
of
war.

Again
 2019,
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 Children
 and
 Social
 Protection
 in
 Liberia
 in
 collaboration
 with
 Civil
 Society
 Organizations,
 including
 YOCEL,
 supported
the
National
Girl's
Summit
by
providing
 logistical
support
which
was
convened
through
a
 Zoom
Webinar.
 Rationale
of
the
Scorecard

The
 production
 of
 the
 scorecard
 is
 the
 new
 way
 civil
 society
 have
 developed
 to
 gauge
 and
 e v a l u a te 
 g o v e r n m e n t 
 p e r fo r m a n c e 
 a n d
 measuring
 key
 indicators
 against
 regional
 and
 global
 and
 international
 instruments
 in
 this
 case
 the
Maputo
Protocol.
The
Protocol
ensure
straight
 compliance
 of
 state
 parties
 on
 every
 article
 therein,
 however
 this
 repor t
 will
 focus
 it
 concentration
 squarely
 on
 Articles
 5,
 6
 &
 12.
 This
 scorecard
 will
 identify
 the
 gaps
 and
 challenges
 that
exist
within
the
three
articles
and
adequately
 prepare
 the
 government
 to
 get
 arranged
 in
 addressing
 the
 key
 recommendations
 and
 the
 scores
 that
 fall
 below
 the
 benchmark
 for
 policy
 actions,
this
report
will
also
allow
CSOs
to
readjust
 and
 designed
 new
 approach
 to
 address
 the
 situation
and
hold
government
accountable.

Page

IV

METHODOLOGY The
 Youth
 Coalition
 for
 Education
 in
 Liberia
 has
 been
 closely
 following-up
on
the
implementation
of
key
findings
in
Year
I
of
the
 scorecard
 at
 the
 same
 time
 initiating
 conversations
 with
 stakeholders
on
development
of
Year
II
report.

Prior
to
Covid
-19,
YOCEL
used
three
methods
in
gathering
the
 information
from
key
stakeholders
in
the
public
and
private
sector.
 The
information
gathered
from
key
stakeholder
was
done
through
 a
paper-based
approach,
face
to
face
interaction
and
mini
focus
 group
 discussion
 due
 to
 Covid-19
 some
 of
 information
 was
 gathered
 through
 email
 exchanges,
 Micro
 team
 meeting,
 and
 Zoom,
Skype
and
Whatsapp
conversations.

However,
 the
 findings
 of
 this
 report
 were
 drawn
 from
 data
 evidence
 submitted
 and
 was
 verified,
 online
 publications
 of
 reports
 both
 by
 the
 government
 and
 many
 from
 development
 partners
and
civil
society
and
other
mix
method
that
was
used
 and
mentioned
above.

Liberia
ScoreCard





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Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

V

CONSTITUTIONAL
RAMIFICATION

The
Liberian
Constitution
which
is
the
organic
law
of
the
Republic
of
Liberia
ensures
 equal
 protection
 for
 all
 including
 women
 and
 girls
 and
 a ordable
 and
 quality
 education
to
all
citizens
(Article
10
&
11
of
the
1986
Constitution).
In
keeping
with
this
 mandate,
Liberia
has
made
some
significant
progress
on
protecting,
upholding
and
 respecting
the
dignity
of
women
and
girls
human
rights
through
legislation.

Most
recently,
the
Liberian
government
enacted
into
law
''the
Land
Right
Act
of
2018''
 which
protects
women's
rights
including
rural
women's
access
to
land
ownership
and
 the
 passage
 of
 the
 “Local
 Governance
 Act
 of
 2019”
 which
 gives
 authority
 to
 the
 municipality
to
levy
taxes,
and
give
a
special
provision
for
women
entry
in
to
leadership
 and
political
participation.
These
are
milestone
achievement
in
strengthening
the
legal
 frameworks,
with
plans
being
advanced
for
its
full
implementation.

Legal
Instruments Liberia
has
enacted
the
following
statutory
laws,
with
clauses
that
speaks
directly
to
 the
lives
and
protection
of
women
and
girls
and
ensure
compliance
in
line
with
the
 Maputo
Protocol. Penal
Code
revised
volume
III


 
 
 
 
 The
Domestic
Relation
Law

 
 
 
 
 Decent
Work
Act

 
 
 
 
 
 
 Land
Rights
Act
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Liberia
Children's
Law
 
 
 
 
 
 Education
Reform
Act
 
 
 
 
 
 The
Amended
Rape
Law
 
 
 
 
 
 Liberia
Refugee
Act

 
 
 
 
 
 Anti-Tra cking
Law

 
 
 
 
 
 Liberia
Labour
Law
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Act
to
Ban
Tra cking
in
Persons
 
 
 
 
 Demography
Health
Survey
(DHS)
 
 
 
 Pro-Poor
Agenda
for
Prosperity
and
Development
(PAPD

 Getting
to
Best
Education
Sector
Plan
 
 
 
 Education
Sector
Analysis


 
 
 
 
 Work
Bank
Report
on
the
Education
Sector

 
 
 National
Girls
Education
Policy

 
 
 
 
 Education
Road
Map

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

(1976)
 (1956)
 (2015)
 (2018)
 (2011) (2011) (2014)
 (1993)
 (2011)
 (1950) (2005) (2013) (2018) (2017
–
2021)
 (2017) (2018) (2017) (2018)

Page

VI

Objectives
of
the
Report

The
foremost
objective
of
this
Scorecard
is
to
ensure
that
the
Liberian
 government
 through
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender,
 Children
 and
 Social
 Protection
are
in
compliance
with
Articles:
5
“The
Elimination
of
Harmful
 Practices”,
Article
6:
Marriage
&
Article
12
“Right
to
Education
and
Training”
 of
the
Maputo
Protocol
which
provide
the
country's
assessment
scores,
 outcomes
and
the
challenges
the
country
is
faced
with
and
in
the
latter
 part
provide
recommendations
on
areas
that
need
to
be
supported
and
 strengthened
by
the
Liberian
government.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

VII

YOCEL
IN
BRIEF

Established
in
2013,
YOCEL
is
a
youth
empowerment
and
social
enterprise
accelerator
 -
ensuring
that
all
youth,
including
young
women
and
girls,
have
access
to
education
 and
skills
to
end
unemployment
through
innovation.
YOCEL
Advocates
and
promote
 economic
 growth
 through
 capacity
 building,
 social
 dialogues
 and
 collaborative
 partnerships
 on
 education,
 entrepreneurship,
 job
 creation
 and
 workforce
 empowerment
in
Liberia
and
across
Africa.

Vision

Mission

A
generation
of
social
and
business
entrepreneurs
 and
intrapreneurs
contributing
to
sustainable
job
 creation,
 enhanced
 workforce
 and
 economic
 growth
in
Liberia
and
on
the
African
Continent.
 We
 inspire
 and
 empower
 young
 Liberians
 and
 African
Youth
through
accelerated
and
innovative
 learning
 using
 training,
 social
 dialogues
 and
 c o l l a b o ra t i ve 
 p a r t n e rs h i ps 
 t h a t 
 i m p a c ts
 Education,
 Entrepreneurship
 and
 Responsible
 leadership
for
complementary
and
enhanced
job
 creation
 and
 economic
 growth
 for
 Liberians
 and
 African
youth.

Core
Programs:

 Social
Entrepreneurship
Accelerator
(SEA

Is
 a
 12months
 fellowship
 program
 supporting
 
 a
 pipeline
 of
 “early
 stage
 and
 investment
 ready”
 social
 enterprises
 that
 have
 financially
 sustainable
 business
 models,
 a
 business
 plan
 presentation
 and
 pitch
 that
 demonstrate
 social
 impact,
 growth,
 and
 long-term
 financial
 sustainability
 to
 attract
 future
 investors
 to
 the
 enterprises
and
investment
to
Liberia
The
Program
will
build
acceleration
capacity
to
 spur
the
generation
of
social
enterprises
throughout
Liberia
,
generate
one
cohort
a
 year
of
“early
stage
and
investment
ready”
social
enterprises
and
grow
a
cadre
of
 local
mentors,
across
a
range
of
sectors.

Young
Business
Leaders'
Summit

Formerly
 (the
 Annual
 youth
 Education
 &
 Empowerment
 Summit)
 
 
 brings
 people
 together,
either
virtually
or
in-person,
to
drive
a
collective
e ort
that
serves
a
specific
 shared
 purpose
 of
 building
 sustainable
 job
 creation,
 enhanced
 workforce
 and
 economic
growth
in
Liberia
and
on
the
African
Continent.
We
annually
convene
a
4days
collaborative
summit
along
with
a
local
investor
showcase
that
are
uniquely
 designed
 to
 help
 entrepreneurs
 forge
 alliances,
 access
 finance
 to
 advance
 their
 institution's
social
impact.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

VIII

The
BizBox

Is
 a
 series
 of
 social
 dialogues
 aimed
 at
 elevating
 business
 conversations
 and
 connecting
entrepreneurs
for
social
good.
The
platform
is
a
network
of
entrepreneurs
 that
 brings
 together
 policy
 makers,
 innovative
 business
 leaders,
 accomplished
 academics,
leaders
of
civil
society
organizations
and
other
distinguished
individuals
 to
 share,
 learn,
 access
 information,
 and
 foster
 productive
 dialogue
 on
 the
 entrepreneurial
ecosystem
in
Liberia
and
across
Africa.

Wologizi
Fund

Is
a
funding
mechanism
dedicated
to
helping
social
enterprises
climb
the
credibility
 hurdle
and
strengthen
their
operations
to
achieve
lasting
social
impact.
The
way
we
 do
this
is
by
providing
social
businesses
and
their
entrepreneurs
with
a
unique
blend
of
 financial
and
non-financial
assistance
through
our
two
funding
models: I.








Innovation:

 we
 provide
 seed
 capital
 to
 support
 the
 startup
 and
 field
 testing
 of
 innovations
that

challenges
the
status
quo,
by
introducing
a
bold
new
 and
improved
way
of
working
and
thinking
about
societal
issues
and
 their
solutions.

II.








High
Impact:

 we
provide
support
to
“investment
ready”
social
enterprises
who
have
 already
demonstrated
a
strong
track
record
of
social
impact
that
are
 measurable,
scalable,
sustainable,
and
e ective.

Business
Data

A
 Social
 Entrepreneurship
 Research
 convened
 to
 study
 the
 market
 forces,
 opportunities
and
systematic
issues
that
throw
light
on
what
the
needs
are,
and
how
 can
the
available
data
be
used
for
learning,
monitoring
and
evaluating
impact
for
 youth
and
serves
as
youth
Business
ecosystem.
It
will
be
a
data
driven
exercise
that
 brings
 hard
 core
 data
 to
 the
 young
 entrepreneur
 as
 a
 catalyst
 to
 improving
 the
 business
 environment.
 
 This
 will
 also
 serve
 as
 an
 advocacy
 strategy
 to
 engage
 stakeholders
 constructive
 at
 all
 fronts
 to
 empower
 young
 people
 through
 entrepreneurship
and
job
creation.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

IX

Article
5: Elimination
of
harmful
practices The
Article Number

5
(a)

The
Article
Content

Creation
of
 public
 awareness
in
 all
sectors
of
 society
 regarding
 harmful
 practices
 through
 information,
 formal
and
 informal
 education
 and
outreach
 Programmes

Assessment
Questions

W h a t 
 a r e 
 t h e
 existing
 harmful
 p r a c t i c e s
 a ecting
the
lives
 of
 woman
 and
 g i r l s 
 i n 
 t h e
 country?

Situation/Reality
Report

YES.
 
There
are
harmful
practices
 that
 a ects
 Women
 and
 Girls,
 Sexual
and
Gender
Based
Violence
 is
still
pervasive
across
the
country,
 Female
 Genital
 Mutilation
 FGM
 is
 highly
 practice
 in
 Liberia,
 more
 than
half
of
the
Women
and
Girls
in
 12
 out
 of
 the
 15
 counties
 undergo
 FGM,
majority
of
Women
and
Girls
 call
for
the
practice
to
be
abolished
 but
1
out
of
three
women
and
girls
 s a y s 
 i t 
 s h o u l d 
 c o n t i n u e
 (Demography
 Health
 Survey
 DHS
 of
 2013)
 and
 UNICEF
 Situation
 Report
on
FGM
2016.
12
out
of
the
15
 counties
 in
 Liberia
 practice
 FGM.
 Many
 women
 and
 girls
 involves
 names
 has
 been
 change
 to
 past
 leaders
and
members
of
the
Porous
 Society.
 Teenage
 Pregnancy
 is
 on
 the
 increase
 in
 the
 Southeastern
 part
 of
 the
 country
 where
 illegal
 Gold
Mining
is
taken
place.

Wo m a n 
 a n d 
 g i r l s 
 es p e c i a l l y
 (children)
 have
 faced
 all
 kinds
 of
 inhumane
treatments
and
corporal
 punishment
which
are
prevalent
in
 the
 Liberian
 society
 and
 is
 based
 o n 
 t h e 
 m y t h 
 t h a t 
 t h e y 
 a r e
 possessed
with
an
evil
spirit
(Mamie
 Yatta
or
Night-man)
these
spiritual
 religious
 and
 traditional
 practices
 are
unwilfully
administer
in
di erent
 forms
 as
 a
 signed
 of
 correction,
 cleansing
and
disconnecting
them
 from
a
strange
powerbase.
A
high
 percentage
of
most
sexual
abuse,
 rape
and
domestic
violence
cases
 reported
 or
 received
 comes
 from
 such
result
and
those
perpetrators
 are
 heads
 or
 close
 associates
 of
 these
systems.
Sadly,
most
of
these
 cases
 are
 compromise
 by
 victim
 families
in
an
attempt
to
protect
or
 shield
against
dissolution.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Score

1

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Is
there
broad
 awareness
by
the
 public
of
harmful
 practices
-
 through
formal
 and
informal
 education
and
 outreach
 programmes?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

YES.
 
 There
 are
 awareness
 being
 carryout
 in
 communities
 through
 Radio
 stations,
 Newspaper
 and
 Jingles
 also
 the
 establishment
 of
 (Girls
 Club,
 Health
 Club,
 Buddy
 System
 SGBV
 Task
 Force,
 Children
 Parliament,
 AQE
 –
 ALP
 (Trusted
 Adults)
also
there
has
been
public
 awareness
 held
 by
 the
 Liberian
 National
 Students
 Union
 (LNSU)
 and
others
CSOs.

1

YES.

the
16
days
of
activism,
SGBV
 Joint
Program,
Bring
the
Girl
Child
 Back
 to
 School
 Campaign,
 Child
 Protection
 Network
 of
 Liberia,
 EU,
 UN
Spotlight
Initiative.

1

The
 Government
 of
 Liberia
 under
 the
leadership
of
His
Excellency
Dr.
 G e o r g e 
 M a n n e h 
 W e a h 
 o n
 W e d n e s d a y, 
 J u l y 
 2 9, 
 2 0 1 9
 concluded
 a
 special
 stakeholder
 meeting
 on
 the
 overview
 of
 the
 status
 of
 Rape
 and
 other
 Sexual
 and
Gender
Based
Violence
cases
 in
the
country.
The
meeting
follows
 a
month-long
engagement
of
the
 GoL's
Inter-Ministerial
Taskforce
on
 SGBV.
(Information
from
the
Ministry
 of
 Gender,
 Children
 and
 Social
 Protection).

Are
there
public
 awareness
 programmes
and
 campaigns
 aimed
at
 educating
the
 public
on
harmful
 practices?

The
 ECOWAS
 Volunteer
 Program
 also
 carried
 out
 an
 awareness
 programs
 on
 Sexual
 and
 Gender
 Based
 Violence
 (SGBV)
 in
 high
 schools
 particularly
 on
 grade
 12
 students.

Independent
National
Commission
 on
Human
Rights
of
Liberia
(INHCR)
 (Published
 a
 Report)
 on
 Early
 and
 Forced
 Marriage
 in
 Liberia
 which
 serves
 as
 vital
 evidence
 and
 awareness
for
this
fight.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
 targeted
 sensitization
 campaigns
in
 areas
with
high
 incidence/preval ence
of
harmful
 practices?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

YES.

The
Ministry
of
Internal
A airs
 have
 initiated
 a
 sensitization
 campaigns,
 (Montserrado,
 Nimba,
 Lofa,
 Grand
 Gedeh
 and
 Grand
 Cape
 Mount
 Counties.
 Grand
 Bassa
 Sandy
 Bush
 situation)
 and
 this
campaign
mainly
targeted
the
 Bush
 School
 (Sandy
 and
 Poral
 Society).

1

The
 Spotlight
 Initiative
 being
 supported
 by
 UN
 Women
 has
 helped
development
of
The
Ganta
 Declaration
 which
 was
 signed
 on
 25
June
2019
and
calls
for
a
oneyear
 suspension
 of
 Sande
 society
 and
 bush
 school
 activities
 which
 pave
the
way
for
the
elimination
of
 all
 harmful
 practices
 against
 women
 and
 girls
 in
 Liberia.
 Young
 girls
 and
 women
 face
 Female
 Genital
Mutilation
and
respond
to
 s e x u a l 
 a n d 
 g e n d e r - b a s e d
 violence.
The
Initiative
is
supported
 through
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A airs
and
the
National
Council
of
 Chiefs
 and
 Elders
 to
 carry
 out
 its
 i m p l e m e n ta t i o n 
 i n 
 h i g h 
 r i s k
 communities,
towns
and
villages.

Additionally,
 these
 traditional
 leaders
are
raising
awareness
on
its
 i m p l i c a t i o n s 
 o n 
 s e x u a l 
 a n d
 gender-based
 violence
 in
 eight
 counties,
 including
 Grand
 Gedeh,
 Nimba,
 Lofa,
 Montserrado,
 Grand
 Cape
 Mount,
 Bomi,
 Bong
 and
 Margibi
Counties.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
5: Elimination
of
harmful
practices The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

5
(b) Prohibition,
 through
 legislative
 measures
 backed
by
 sanctions,
of
 all
forms
of
 female
genital
 mutilation,
 scarification,
 medicalization
 and
Para
 medicalization
 of
female
 genital
 mutilation
and
 all
other
 practices
in
 order
to
 eradicate
 them

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
 adequate
 enforcement
 mechanisms
 (laws
and
 obligations)
 prohibiting
FGM,
 scarification,
 medicalization
 and
Para
 medicalization
of
 women
and
girls?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

No.
 
There
are
no
legislation
been
 put
 in
 place
 to
 address
 the
 situation
 the
 only
 document
 that
 came
into
e ect
was
the
Executive
 of
 2018
 and
 such
 document
 has
 1
 year
life
spend
and
may
be
renew
 by
the
President,
regardless
of
that
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A airs,
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 Children
 and
 Social
Protection
and
the
National
 Council
 of
 Chiefs
 and
 Elders
 of
 Liberia
 have
 put
 in
 place
 some
 measure
 but
 enforcement
 power
 are
 limited
 to
 help
 hut
 on
 the
 operation
 of
 traditional
 bush
 school
for
the
period
of
one
year.

0

The
 issue
 of
 FGM
 was
 included
 in
 proposed
 Domestic
 Violence
 Bill
 (2014)
 but
 components
 directing
 relating
to
it
was
deleted
from
the
 B i l l 
 i n 
 201 7 
 by 
 t h e 
 H o u se 
 of
 Representatives
of
the
54th
National
 Legislature
 stating
 that
 it
 borders
 around
 Liberia's
 heritage
 and
 needs
more
time
to
review
for
other
 consideration
 to
 this
 practice.

 Accordingly,
it
will
be
treated
as
a
 stand-alone
 law
 when
 review
 is
 completed.
 The
government
of
Liberia
through
 the
 CSO
 have
 develop
 a
 draft
 stand-alone
 bill
 on
 FGM,
 since
 it
 was
extracted
from
the
passage
of
 the
DVA.

Are
the
existing
 enforcement
 mechanisms
 punitive
enough
 to
act
as
an
 e ective
 deterrence?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

No.
 The
 punitive
 measure
 is
 temporary
 for
 enforcement
 and
 such
 mechanism
 or
 framework
 can't
go
beyond
a
year
period.

0

On
 19th
 January
 2018,
 former
 Liberian
 President
 Ellen
 Johnson
 Sirleaf
 signed
 Executive
 Order
 92,
 temporarily
 banning
 the
 practice
 of
FGM
in
Liberia
for
one
year.

Page

1

Article
5: Elimination
of
harmful
practices The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

5
(c) Provision
of
 necessary
 support
to
 victims
of
 harmful
 practices
 through
basic
 services
such
 as
health
 services,
legal
 and
judicial
 support,
 emotional
and
 psychological
 counselling
as
 well
as
 vocational
 training
to
 make
them
 selfsupporting;

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Are
there
 designated
 medical
sta 
 trained
to
deal
 with
victims
of
 harmful
 practices?

Yes.
 
there
are
existing
14
centers
 across
 7
 counties
 in
 Liberia,
 (One
 Stop
 Center)
 and
 trained
 and
 experience
 sta 
 are
 assigned
 to
 those
facilities.

1

Are
there
 specialised
desks
 in
health
facilities
 set
aside
to
 respond
to
the
 physical,
 psychological
 and
emotional
 needs
of
victims
 of
harmful
 practices?

Yes.
 These
 One-Stop-Center
 has
 a
 specialized
 desk
 in
 the
 health
 facilities
to
deals
with
issues/cases
 o f 
 p h y s i c a l , 
 e m o t i o n a l ,
 psychological
and
there
are
social
 counselors
 that
 received
 cases
 of
 S/GBV
and
Rape,
amongst
others
 a n d 
 h a n d l e 
 t h e m 
 w i t h 
 t h e
 expertise
 in
 a
 more
 sensitivities
 minor
considering
confidentiality
of
 victims/survivals
 and
 the
 further
 legal
referral
pathways.

1

Are
there
 e ective
national
 and
devolved
 response
 systems,
both
 legal
and
 judicial,
 distributed
 across
the
 country
to
 address
cases
of
 harmful
 practices?

Yes.
 The
 Ministry
 of
 Gender,
 Children
 and
 Social
 Protection
 provides
 oversight
 on
 cases
 of
 violence
 against
 children,
 women,
 g i r l s 
 a n d 
 b o y s , 
 t h e r e 
 i s 
 a n
 established
legal
process
been
put
 In
 place
 headed
 by
 the
 Women
 and
Children
Division
of
the
Liberia
 National
Police,
in
the
judiciary
we
 have
a
specialize
court
that
is
fully
 functional
 the
 Criminal
 Court
 E”
 responsible
for
all
sexual
o enses.

1

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

These
 One-Stop-Centers
 across
 the
 country
 is
 intended
 to
 handle
 cases
of
Sexual
and
Gender
base
 Violence
 Mainly
 RAPE,
 giving
 the
 highest
 and
 prompt
 attention
 needed
to
victims.

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Additionally,
 the
 establishment
 of
 the
 Court
 “Criminal
 Court
 E”
 with
 focus
on
Sexual
O enses
having
a
 Special
 Divisions
 of
 Circuit
 Courts.
 The
Law
gives
exclusive
jurisdiction
 to
these
courts
for
dealing
with
the
 prosecution
 of
 sex
 crimes.
 These
 courts
 have
 the
 authority
 to
 prohibit
 publication
 of
 a
 victim's
 personal
information.
This
includes
 the
 right
 to
 expunge
 their
 names
 from
 public
 records.
 Additionally,
 the
 Law
 grants
 these
 courts
 the
 ability
 to
 provide
 interim
 relief
 to
 protect
victims.
In
this
respect,
the
 Law
specifically
refers
to
the
ability
 of
 the
 court
 to
 ensure
 that
 child
 victims
 are
 placed
 in
 protective
 custody.
 However,
 the
 Liberian
 National
 Police
 (LNP)
 incorporates
 the
 Women
 and
 Children
 Protection
 Services,
 in
 September
 of
 2005
 established
 this
 unit
 specifically
 tasked
 with
 addressing
 violent
 c r i m e s 
 a g a i n s t 
 w o m e n 
 a n d
 children
 through
 an
 agreement
 between
 UNICEF
 and
 the
 LNP.
 L I B E R I A : 
 T H E 
 L AW 
 A N D 
 F G M
 September
2018
–
Report.

Do
victims
and
 survivors
of
 harmful
practices
 receive
 vocational
 training
on
 personal
growth?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

No.
Currently
these
services
are
not
 in
 existence,
 but
 it
 existed
 before
 under
 the
 joint
 program
 of
 SGBV
 Survivals
 given
 Micro
 Loan
 which
 w a s 
 h i g h l y 
 s p o n s o r 
 b y
 development
partners
that
are
not
 in
existence
Now.

0

Page

1

Article
5: Elimination
of
harmful
practices The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

5
(d) Protection
of
 women
who
 are
at
risk
of
 being
 subjected
to
 harmful
 practices
or
 all
forms
of
 violence,
 abuse
and
 intolerance

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
special
 fairly
distributed,
 a ordable
and
 accessible
 services
such
as
 safety
shelters,
 counselling
 services
and
 economic
 empowerment
 programs
for
 women
 subjected
to
 harmful
practices
 and
violence?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 The
 Ministry
 of
 Gender,
 Children
 and
 Social
 Protection
 have
 a
 program
 that
 is
 currently
 running
called
the
“Julue-Ta
Interim
 Care
Center
which
is
supported
by
 development
 partner
 UNICEF
 through
 the
 Andalucia
 Regional
 Government.

1

Additionally,
 the
 VULNERABLE
 GIRLS
 PROJECT:
 The
 project
 is
 p r o v i d i n g 
 e d u c a t i o n a l
 o p p o r t u n i t i e s 
 fo r 
 1 5 2 
 u n d e r
 privileged
 and
 vulnerable
 girls
 between
 the
 ages
 of
 10
 –
 17
 in
 a
 number
 of
 counties
 across
 the
 country.

J P 
 RW E E 
 Pro g ra m 
 ta rg et i n g
 vulnerable
 women
 and
 girls
 with
 b a s i c 
 e c o n o m i c 
 s k i l l s 
 a n d
 empowerment.

EPAG
 is
 a
 program
 that
 supports
 t h e 
 G ove r n m e n t 
 of 
 L i b e r i a 's
 prioritization
of
youth
development
 and
 employment
 for
 adolescent
 girls
and
young
women.

The
Government
of
Liberia,
in
2015,
 with
support
from
the
World
Bank
 and
 USAID
 The
 Liberia
 Social
 S a f e t y 
 N e t 
 P r o j e c t 
 ( L S S N P )
 implementing
 the
 social
 Cash
 Transfer
Program.

Are
the
support
 services
wellresourced
 (financial/human)
 to
respond
to
 reported
cases
of
 harmful
practices?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Yes.
The
government
of
Liberia
has
 b e e n 
 a b l e 
 t o 
 m o b i l i z e d
 development
 partners
 support
 to
 response
financially
for
little
over
12
 years,
 but
 within
 the
 government
 budget
 envelop
 resources
 are
 limited.

1

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Are
law
 enforcement
 o cers
trained
to
 o er
special
 protection
to
 women
at
risk
of
 harmful
 traditional
 practices?

Yes.
this
is
one
sector
that
with
the
 s u p p o r t 
 f r o m 
 d e v e l o p m e n t
 partners
 attention
 have
 drawn,
 there
 are
 law
 enforcement
 o ce
 that
 have
 acquired
 advance
 training
in
dealing
with
situation
of
 such
and
many
of
the
o cers
in
the
 Women
and
Children
Division
of
the
 Liberia
 Nation
 Police
 have
 been
 trained
 with
 support
 from
 the
 EU,
 and
UNWomen.

1

Is
there
support
 for
appropriate
 community
 mobilization
and
 education
 measures
against
 harmful
practices?

Yes.
 the
 government
 of
 Liberia
 have
 received
 huge
 support
 for
 community
 mobilization
 from
 development
partners
(UNFPA,
and
 Swedish
 Embassy)
 and
 based
 on
 this
area
of
intervention
CSOs
have
 also
benefitted
from
such.

1

Total
Score
=
14

(100%)

11

POINTS 78.57%

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
Assessment Article
5:
Elimination
of
Harmful
Practices

The
Government
of
Liberia
Under
this
Article:
5
“The
Elimination
of
Harmful
Practices
has
 contributed
major
gains
and
recognition
with
respect
to
the
provision
of
key
articles
in
 the
 report.
 The
 information
 provided
 shows
 that
 significant
 process
 has
 been
 made
 through
 the
 establishment
 of
 specialize
 courts
 to
 trail
 perpetrators
 of
 sexual
 o ense
 though
 there
 are
 challenges
 with
 the
 prolong
 limit
 of
 the
 prosecution
 but
 the
 infrastructural
and
framework
has
been
established
compare
to
other
countries
in
the
 region,
also
there
are
some
gain
been
made
with
the
training
of
some
law
enforcement
 o cers
to
handle
cases
of
sexual
o enses.
 However,
there
are
still
challenged
with
the
Female
Genital
Mutilations
(FGM)
and
these
 social
norms
perceptions,
up
to
present
there
are
no
law
to
deal
with
this
malice
neither
a
 strong
 political
 will
 on
 the
 part
 of
 the
 government
 there
 is
 still
 a
 huge
 traditional
 sentiment
around
the
issue
and
executive
orders
can't
uprightly
help
the
situation
it
is
just
 a
quick
impact
and
we
now
need
sustainable
solutions.





 Gap:
The
specialized
court
for
prosecution
of
SGBV
cases
is
not
decentralized.
Liberia
 has
15
counties
and
there
is
only
three
specialized
courts
and
SGBV
crimes
unit
 situated
in
Montserrado,
Nimba
and
Grand
Bassa
County.
Furthermore
facilities,
 human
resource
and
equipment
necessary
for
gathering
and
preserving
of
evidences
 by
the
judiciary
and
health
practitioners
are
limited.

Liberia
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Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Recommendations The
state
party
should
increase
the
number
of
courts
to
 other
counties
to
persecute
perpetrators
of
sexual
o enses
 The
state
party
through
the
legislature
must
ensure
the
 passage
of
the
stand-alone
FGM
act.

The
state
party
should
provide
support
to
the
Women
and
 Children
Division
of

the
Liberia
National
Police
Forensic
Lab
 Unit
of
the
Police

Possible
Areas
for
Future
Advocacy
 CSOs
should
lobby
with
the
legislature
to
ensure
the
passage of
the
stand-alone
FGM
Act

CSOs
should
work
with
the
government
of
Liberia
to
ensure
the full
implementation
of
the
SGBV
role
map

Advocacy
for
the
operationalization
of
DNA
machine
donated to
the
government
of
Liberia
for
prosecution
of
GBV
cases

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(a) No
marriage
 shall
take
 place
without
 the
free
and
 full
consent
of
 both
parties.
 This
means
 that
forced
 marriage
is
 prohibited;
 parents
 cannot
 compel
their
 daughter
to
 marry
a
man
 against
her
 will.

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
laws
 specifically
 prohibiting
 forced
marriages
 and
prescribing
 punishment?
List
 these
laws

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 The
 EQUAL
 RIGHTS
 OF
 THE

1

CUSTOMARY
 MARRIAGE
 LAW
 OF
 1998.
 (Section

2.10)

Requires
 that
 every
 customary
 female
 of
 legal
 age
 18+
 shall
 have
the
right
to
choose
based
 on
her
free
will
to
marry
the
man
 of
her
choice.
It
shall
be
unlawful
 for
any
tribal
parent
to
choose
a
 husband
for
his/her
daughter
or
 n ex t 
 of 
 k i n 
 o r 
 co m p e l 
 t h e
 d a u g h te r 
 o r 
 o t h e r 
 fe m a l e
 relative
to
marry
a
man
not
her
 choice
 those
 who
 shall
 violate
 said
provision;
 Section
 2.10.2
 any
 such
 person
 form
in
violation
of
such
law
shall
 be
punishable
by
fine
of
not
less
 than
US
$
5,000.00
US
nor
more
 than
US
$
1,000.00

Additionally
the
Domestic
Violence
 Act
Charter
16.2
Harassment
.

Section
 1.
 Say
 no
 two
 persons
 below
 the
 legal
 marital
 age
 of
 18+
 shall
 get
 marry,
 if
 such
 marriage
 is
 secretly
 held
 the
 person
o ciating
such
wedding
 such
be
persecuted
and
if
form
 duty
shall
be
jail
for
4years.

S e c t i o n 
 2 . 1 
 i f 
 o n e 
 o f 
 t h e
 adversaries
 (Male)
 is
 above
 the
 legal
 18+
 the
 marriage
 shall
 be
 legally
 expected
 and
 both
 parties
 must
 agree
 prior
 to
 the
 date
of
the
marriage
there
shall
 be
 absolutely
 no
 intimidation
 from
 the
 parents,
 relatives
 and
 guardians
 to
 put
 the
 female
 u n d e r 
 d u r e s s 
 fi n a n c i a l
 inducement
for
such
marriage
to
 be
held.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Is
there
accurate
 data
on
all
 marriages?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 from
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A air
of
Liberia
the
data
provided
 t o 
 u s 
 r e p r e s e n t e d 
 w e s t e r n
 marriage
 in
 both
 church
 and
 Mosque
2004
–
2016
Montserrado
 County
 obtained
 the
 highest
 number
of
persons
gotten
married
 275
 persons
 applied
 for
 marry
 certificates
 108
 were
 successful
 a n d 
 re c e i v e d 
 t h e i r 
 m a r r i e d
 certificates,
 in
 the
 same
 period
 from
 Grand
 Bassa
 County
 128
 persons
 applied
 and
 99
 persons
 were
successful
and
received
their
 married
certificate
these
were
the
 two
 highest
 counties
 the
 total
 numbers
 of
 persons
 represented
 the
fifteen
counties
the
year
under
 reviewed
 were
 476
 successful
 applicant.

1

No.
 since
 the
 government
 launch
 the
Early
Child
and
Force
Marriage
 Campaign
 there
 have
 limited
 budgetary
 support
 to
 the
 Ministry
 of
Justice
and
the
Liberia
National
 Police
to
adequately
response.

0

A d d i t i o n a l 
 w i t h 
 r e s p e c t 
 t o
 t r a d i t i o n a l 
 a n d 
 c u s t o m a r y
 marriage
 The
 Center
 for
 National
 Document
 and
 Records
 they
 are
 a l s o 
 r e s p o n s i b l e 
 t o 
 h a n d l e
 t r a d i t i o n a l 
 a n d 
 c u s t o m a r y
 marriages
they
provided
the
total
 number
 of
 persons
 that
 have
 gotten
 married
 traditionally
 over
 the
 last
 10
 years
 2,000
 persons
 names
have
been
recorded
but
the
 institution
was
quick
to
mentioned
 of
the
challenges
they
are
face
with
 the
 number
 of
 persons
 are
 more
 but
 those
 persons
 were
 never
 recorded.

Are
law
 enforcement
 agencies

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Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(b) The
Minimum
 age
for
 women
shall
 be
18
years.

Assessment
Questions

Does
 the
 law
 or
 policy
specify
the
 minimum
 age
 for
 marriage?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.

AN
ACT
TO
AMEND
SECTIONS
14,
16,

1

17
 and
 18
 OF
 THE
 PENAL
 LAW,
 TITLE
 26,
 LIBERIAN
CODE
OF
LAWS
REVISED
AND
TO
 ADD
THERETO
A
NEW
SECTION
 Sexual
offense
 14.70
Rape

Definition:
The
legally
marry
age
for
a
 person
(Female)
to
get
Marry
is
at
18+
 and
above,
with
the
consent
of
the
 adversary
party
not
by
force
or
 duress.

Offense:

A
person
who
have
sexual

intercourse
with
another
person
 (Female)
have
committed
Rape
if:

(I)
 He
intentionally
 penetrates
the
vagina,
anus,
 mouth
or
any
other
opening
of:; another
person
(male
or
female)
 with
his
penis,
without
the
 victim's
consent;
or;

(ii)

 He/She
intentionally
 penetrates
the
vagina
or
anus
 of
another
person
with
a
foreign
 object
or
with
any
other
part
of
 the
body
(other
than
the
penis),
 without
the
victim's
consent. (iii)

 The
victim
is
less
than
 eighteen
years
old,
provided
 the
actor
is
eighteen
years
of
 age
or older.

2.
Gang
Rape.
A
person
has
 committed
Gang
Rape,
a
firstdegree
felony,
if: He
or
she
purposely
promotes
or
 facilitates
rape
or
agrees
with
one
or
 more
persons
to engage
in
or
cause
the
performance
 of
conduct
which
shall
constitute
 rape.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Children's
Law
of
Liberia,
2011
&
(Article
 VI,
Section
1(a-d)
&
4)

Section
16.15
(a-e)
&
Section
4
(a-d)
 No
 person
 or
 society
 shall
 subject
 a
 child
 to
 any
 harmful
 practices;
 a
 person
 commits
 a
 felony
 of
 second
 degree
if
she
or
he
subjects
a
child
to
 any
of
the
following
practices:


 (I)
 facilitating
the
marriage
 to
any
person
when
she
or
he
is
 still
under
the
age
of
18;

(ii)

 forcing
a
child
to
marry
 another
person

(iii)

 betrothing
a
child
into
 marriage
or
a
promise
for
 marriage;
 (iv)
 exposing
the
child
to
 harmful
or
hazardous
work;

(v)
 or
a
practice
that
violate
 or
endanger
the
bodily
integrity,
 life,
health,
dignity,
education,
 welfare,
or
holistic
development
 of
the
child.”

Etc.

Are
there
any
 customary
or
 religiously
 recognized
 practices
that
 provide
for
 exceptions
with
 regards
to
the
 minimum
age
for
 marriage?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

No.
the
Domestic
Relations
Law
-

0

Title
9
-
Liberian
Code
of
Laws
 Revised
–
(Chapter
2,
Sub.
Section
 2.2) Provides
Legal
rights
to
all
parties
 on
 the
 minimum
 age
 of
 marriage
 with
no
exception
to
any
religious
 grouping
or
ethnic
group

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Chapter
2.

MARRIAGE

Sub.
§
2.2.
Marriageable
age.
1.
Age
 of
 legal
 consent:
 Males;
 females.
 E ve r y 
 m a l e 
 p e rso n 
 w h o 
 h a s
 attained
 the
 full
 age
 of
 18
 years

 and
above
and
every
female
who
 has
attained
the
full
age
of
18
shall
 per
see
be
capable
of
contracting
 marriage
 and
 a
 marriage
 license
 may
 be
 issued
 to
 such
 persons
 if
 otherwise
 competent
 and
 such
 marriage
shall
not
be
done
under
 duress,
 intimidation
 or
 any
 other
 harassment. Are
there
 institutions
that
 enforce
marriage
 laws
and
the
 rights
 thereunder?

Yes.
These
institutions
response
are,

1

the
 Woman
 and
 Children
 Division
 of
the
Liberia
National
Police,
The
 Ministry
of
Gender
and
The
Ministry
 of
Internal
A airs
or
the
Ministry
of
 Interior.
 Mandate
of
the
Ministry
of
Internal
 Affairs

Mandate:
 in
 line
 with
 the
 1982
 Act
 that
 established
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A airs
 one
 of
 its
 Core
 Mandate
 is
 to
 supervise
 and
 coordinate
Local
Governance
and
 the
key
objective
are
listed
below.

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Protocol
2019

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Situation/Reality
Report

Assessment
Questions

Score

a.



Objectives:
The
objectives
of
this
 new
 governance
 system
 were,
 to
 make
 both
 Leaders
 and
 the
 G o v e r n e d 
 m o r e 
 a w a r e 
 a n d
 r e s p o n s i v e 
 t o 
 t h e i r 
 r i g h t s ,
 l i m i ta t i o n s , 
 re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,
 potentials
 and
 their
 duty
 to
 the
 State
and
ensure
citizen
have
the
 r i g h t 
 t o 
 f r e e l y 
 g e t 
 l e g a l l y
 associated
 in
 (Marriage,
 courtship
 a n d 
 D i a r y ) 
 e n f o r c e 
 l o c a l
 governance
 regulations,
 among
 others. b.
 
 Social
 Cohesion:
 The
 gradual
 positive
 change
 of
 mindset
 under
 t h e 
 n ew 
 syste m 
 of 
 B r i n g i n g
 Government
 Closer
 to
 the
 People
 clearly
 began
 an
 erosion
 and
 replacement
 of
 the
 old
 system
 of
 'Everything
 being
 Decided
 and
 Controlled
from
Monrovia. The
Ministry
of
Gender

Within
the
Ministry
of
Gender
they
 have
 the
 Women
 and
 Children
 Session,
 based
 on
 some
 of
 the
 mandate
of
the
ministry
of
gender
 to
intervene
in
to
marital
a airs
of
 both
 parties
 and
 recommend
 persecution
to
the
Liberia
National
 Police
on
issue
i.e
persistence
NonSupports
 among
 others,
 Both
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A air
 and
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 have
 a
 Join
 Ministerial
Task
force
that
intervene
 in
 such
 matter
 and
 forward
 all
 cases
 that
 does
 not
 have
 a
 criminal
component
to
the
Ministry
 of
Justice
and
onward
persecution
 to
 the
 
 Circuit
 Court
 B”
 at
 the
 Temple
of
Justice.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/women-and-justice/type/domestic_case_law
 https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1063&context=etd
 Liberia
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2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(c) Monogamy
is
 encouraged
 as
the
 preferred
form
 of
marriage
 and
that
the
 rights
of
 women
in
 marriage
and
 family,
 including
in
 polygamous
 marital
 relationships
 are
promoted
 and
 protected;

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
laws
 that
recognize
 polygamous
 marriages?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.

the
Customary
Marriage
Law
 of
1998
(Section
8
subsection
8.11
–
 14)

1

In
Liberia
there
are
two
ways
once
 ca n 
 g et 
 m a r r y 
 we 
 h a ve 
 t h e
 c u sto m a r y 
 La w 
 of 
 1 9 9 8 
 a n d
 statuary
Law
of
(2000)
both
are
still
 b e e n 
 e e c t i ve 
 b u t 
 w i t h 
 few
 amendments
that
does
not
repeal
 the
 entire
 customary
 law.
 The
 customary
 Law
 is
 what
 we
 also
 referred
 to
 as
 the
 traditional
 marriage
 meaning
 the
 diar y
 payment
 exchange
 of
 kola
 nuts
 and
which
constitute
the
forty
nine
 dollar
($49.00
USD)
bride
price.
As
a
 means
of
appreciation
to
the
Wife
 Family.

Customary
Law
provide
for
one
man
many
 wives

Sub.
§
8.11
 –
Entitling
a
husband
is
 entitle
 to
 get
 marry
 to
 more
 than
 o n e 
 w i fe 
 d e p e n d i n g 
 o n 
 t h e
 strengthen
of
such
person

Sub.
§
8.12
–
the
head
wife's
should

be
inform
of
such
decision
whether
 or
 not
 the
 head
 wife
 agreed
 the
 final
decision
lies
in
the
hands
of
her
 husband.

Sub.
 §
 8.13
 –
 entitling
 the
 second

married
 has
 been
 held
 the
 head
 wife/first
shall
have
legal
authority
 over
 the
 second
 wife
 or
 other
 proceeding.

Sub.
 §
 8.14
 -
 Entitling
 right
 to
 the
 head/first
 wife
 having
 one-third
 of
 her
 husband's
 property
 shall
 not
 be
 taken
 away
whether
or
not
the
husband
has
a
 second
 wife
 or
 other
 proceeding,
 the
 s e c o n d 
 o r 
 m o r e 
 w i v e s 
 s h a l l 
 b e
 compensated
 by
 her
 husband
 with
 no
 authority
 of
 legal
 potion
 of
 one-third
 of
 her
husband's
property.

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Does
the
law/s
 guarantee
 protection
of
 equal
rights
of
 women
in
 marriage
and
 family
whether
in
 monogamous
or
 polygamous
 marital
 relationships?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
The
Customary
Marriage
Law
 and
Western
Marriage
are
all
been
 protected
and
receive
equal
rights
 as
sited
herein. E Q U A L 
 R I G H T S 
 O F 
 T H E
 CUSTOMARY
 MARRIAGE
 LAW
 OF
 1998.
(Section
2.5/6) The
property
acquired
or
owned
by
 a
customary
woman,
either
before
 or
during
marriage,
belongs
to
her
 exclusive
of
her
husband
and
she
is
 therefore
 free
 to
 do
 any
 lawful
 business
in
her
own
name,
including
 the
 right
 to
 contract
 with
 third
 parties
 but
 to
 the
 full
 knowledge
 and
consent
of
her
husband;

1

Sub.
§
2.3
 Entitling
a
wife
to
 one-third
of
her
husband's
 property Sub.
§
2.5
 Providing
that
a
 husband
must
respect
his
wife's
 human
rights
 Sub.
§
3.3

 Entitling
a
widow
to
 remain
on
the
premises
of
her
late
 husband
(or
to
take
another
 husband
of
her
choice
and
 vacate
the
late
husband's
 premises) Sub.
§
3.5
 Entitling
a
widow
to
 administer
her
husband's
estate
 by
making
a
petition
to
the
 probate
court
of
their
jurisdiction.

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Does
the
law/s
 provide
 adequate
 mechanisms
for
 redress
in
marital
 related
cases?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
The
Ministry
of
Justice
and
the
 Ministry
of
Gender
handle
issue
of
 martial
related
cases,
However
the
 Ministry
 of
 Justice
 advice
 the
 plainti 
 and
 adversary
 parties
 on
 the
consequences
associated
with
 divorce,
 separation,
 Alimony
 P e n d e n t e 
 l i t e , 
 R e s i d e n t i a l
 Jurisdiction
 among
 others
 while
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 provide
 counselling
 for
 the
 both
 parties,
 if
 the
 both
 parties
 still
 want
 to
 proceed
 with
 either
 of
 the
 issues
 mentioned
 above
 they
 will
 now
 proceed
 to
 the
 Circuit
 Court
 or
 M a g i s t e r i a l 
 c o u r t 
 f o r 
 l e g a l
 interpretation.
 Yes
 the
 redress
 mechanism
is
through
the
Ministry
 of
 Justice
 and
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 Respectively.

1

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Does
the
law/s
 provide
 adequate
 mechanisms
for
 redress
in
marital
 related
cases?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
The
Ministry
of
Justice
and
the
 Ministry
of
Gender
handle
issue
of
 martial
related
cases,
However
the
 Ministry
 of
 Justice
 advice
 the
 plainti 
 and
 adversary
 parties
 on
 the
consequences
associated
with
 divorce,
 separation,
 Alimony
 P e n d e n t e 
 l i t e , 
 R e s i d e n t i a l
 Jurisdiction
 among
 others
 while
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 provide
 counselling
 for
 the
 both
 parties,
 if
 the
 both
 parties
 still
 want
 to
 proceed
 with
 either
 of
 the
 issues
 mentioned
 above
 they
 will
 now
 proceed
 to
 the
 Circuit
 Court
 or
 M a g i s t e r i a l 
 c o u r t 
 f o r 
 l e g a l
 interpretation.
 Yes
 the
 redress
 mechanism
is
through
the
Ministry
 of
 Justice
 and
 Ministry
 of
 Gender
 Respectively.

1

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(d) Every
 marriage
shall
 be
recorded
in
 writing
and
 registered
in
 accordance
 with
national
 laws,
in
order
 to
be
legally
 recognized;

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Are
there
 mechanisms
in
 place
to
register
 all
marriages
 regardless
of
how
 they
are
 solemnized
(i.e.
 customary,
 religious,
etc.)?

Yes.
 
the
Ministry
of
Internal
A air
 and
 The
 National
 Center
 for
 Documentation
 and
 Records
 (Statutory
 Marriage)
 and
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A airs
 MIA
 (Customary
Marriage)
.

Are
there
 institutions
 mandated
to
 register
 marriages
in
 accordance
with
 national
laws?

Yes.
 The
 National
 Center
 for
 Documentation
 and
 Records
 (Statutory
Marriage);
the
Ministry
of
 Internal
 A airs
 MIA
 (Customary
 Marriage)
 and
 the
 Probate
 Court
 (The
Judiciary)

1

Yes.
 The
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A air
 has
 a
 regular
 announcement
 on
 radio
 station,
 Television
 station,
 Drama,
 Jingle
 and
 a
 Service
 Center
is
place
in
every
county
as
a
 m e a n s 
 o f 
 i n f o r m a t i o n
 d i sse m i n a t i o n . 
 C u r re n t l y 
 t h e
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A air
 are
 in
 partnership
in
creating
awareness
 on
 Marriage
 Registration,
 Birth
 R e g i s t r a t i o n 
 a n d 
 D e a t h
 Registration
across
the
country.

1

If
so,
is
this
 information
 registration
of
 marriage
known
 to
the
public?

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

1

Core
Objective
of
the
Ministry
of
Internal
 Affair

Objectives:
The
objectives
of
this
new
 governance
system
were,
to
make
 both
 Leaders
 and
 the
 Governed
 more
aware
and
responsive
to
their
 rights,
 limitations,
 responsibilities,
 potentials
 and
 their
 duty
 to
 the
 State
and
ensure
citizen
have
the
 r i g h t 
 t o 
 f r e e l y 
 g e t 
 l e g a l l y
 associated
 in
 (Marriage,
 courtship
 a n d 
 D i a r y ) 
 e n f o r c e 
 l o c a l
 governance
 regulations,
 among
 others.

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(e) The
husband
 and
wife
shall,
 by
mutual
 agreement,
 choose
their
 matrimonial
 regime
and
 place
of
 residence;

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
laws
to
 protect
the
rights
 of
women
in
 marriage
in
 regard
to
choose
 of
matrimonial
 regime
and
 place
of
 residence?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.

Generally
there
are
laws
that
 protect
 the
 right
 of
 women
 in
 marriage.
 There
 is
 a
 specific
 law
 t h a t 
 g i ves 
 r i g h ts 
 to 
 wo m e n
 p a r t i c u l a r l y 
 i n 
 r e g a r d 
 t o
 matrimonial
 regime
 as
 indicated
 below:

1

There
 are
 laws
 protecting
 widows
 in
Liberia
in
relation
to
their
place
of
 residence
 accordance
 Decedent
 Estate
Law
of
Liberia
(Dec
1,
2003)

S e c t i o n 
 2 . 6 
 W i fe's 
 P ro p e r t y
 Exclusively
and
Place
of
Resident

a)
The
property
acquired
or
owned
 by
 a
 customary
 woman,
 either
 before
or
during
marriage,
belongs
 to
her
exclusive
of
her
husband
and
 she
is
therefore
free
to
stay
therein
 or
 choice
 to
 lease
 the
 business
 lawfully
in
her
own
name,
including
 the
 right
 to
 contract
 with
 third
 parties
 but
 to
 the
 full
 knowledge
 and
consent
of
her
husband,
she
is
 legally
responsible
to
reside
within
 the
 billet
 of
 the
 country
 with
 full
 protection
of
her
human
rights.
 THE
CUSTOMARY
MARRIAGE
LAW
OF
 1998.
(Section
2.5/6)

The
property
acquired
or
owned
by
 a
customary
woman,
either
before
 or
during
marriage,
belongs
to
her
 exclusive
of
her
husband
and
she
is
 therefore
 free
 to
 do
 any
 lawful
 business
in
her
own
name,
including
 the
 right
 to
 contract
 with
 third
 parties
 but
 to
 the
 full
 knowledge
 and
consent
of
her
husband.

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Situation/Reality
Report

Assessment
Questions

Score

Domestic
Relations
Law
-
Title
9
-
Liberian
 Code
of
Laws
Revised
–
(Chapter
3,
Sub.
 Section
3.4)

Property
 and
 rights
 therein
 of
 married
women
A
married
woman
 has
 all
 the
 rights
 in
 respect
 to
 property,
real
or
personal,
and
the
 acquisition,
 use,
 enjoyment
 and
 disposition
 thereof,
 and
 to
 make
 contracts
 in
 respect
 thereto
 with
 any
person,
including
her
husband,
 and
to
carry
on
any
business,
trade
 or
 occupation
 amongst
 many
 other
things
as
the
provision
further
 states.
 If
not,
what
is
the
 practice?

Yes

Are
 there
 laws
 t h a t 
 p r o t e c t
 widows
in
relation
 to
 their
 place
 of
 residence?

Yes.
THE
CUSTOMARY
MARRIAGE
LAW
OF

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Protocol
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1 1

1998.
(Section
3.2/3.3/3.5)

Especially
 Section
 3.3
 which
 sates
 “After
 the
 death
 or
 burial
 of
 her/their
 husband,
 the
 customary
 widow
or
multiple
shall
be
at
liberty
 either
to
remain
on
the
premises
of
 h e r / t h e i r 
 l a t e 
 h u s b a n d 
 t o
 administer
said
estate,
or
she/they
 may
 take
 another
 husband
 of
 her/their
 choice
 and
 shall
 vacate
 the
premises
of
the
late
husband
in
 as
much
the
new
marriage
entered
 automatically
 reverse
 said
 rights
 and
 same
 property
 return
 to
 the
 heirs
 or
 children
 of
 the
 late
 husband”.

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

6
(f)

The
Article
Content

A
married
 woman
shall
 have
the
right
 to
retain
her
 maiden
name
 to
use
it
as
 she
pleases,
 jointly
or
 separately
 with
her
 husband's
 name

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
 guidelines
 governing
 women's
rights
to
 choose
of
 surname
whether
 maiden
or
 husbands?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 absolutely
 there
 is
 no
 law
 within
our
jurisdiction
or
guidelines
 that
 subject
 the
 woman
 to
 using
 the
Surname
of
her
husband,
in
fact
 the
 supreme
 court
 issued
 an
 opinion
on
such
matter.

1

774
LLR,
Page
43
Barclay
v.
Digen

Supreme
Court
of
Liberia
 (December
16,
1999)

Divorce
and
dissolution
of
marriage,
 Gender
discrimination,
Property
and
 inheritance
rights

U p o n 
 d i v o rc e, 
 t h e 
 h u s b a n d
 claimed
 he
 was
 entitled
 to
 a
 property
 acquired
 during
 the
 marriage
 because
 a
 married
 woman
cannot
acquire
property
in
 her
maiden
name
solely
for
herself.
 The
court
held
that:
(a)
there
is
no
 legal
 significance
 of
 a
 woman
 choosing
 to
 use
 her
 husband's
 surname;
 it
 does
 not
 a ect
 the
 right
of
a
woman
to
own
property
 while
 married;
 (b)
 a
 woman
 can
 purchase
 property
 in
 her
 maiden
 name
 during
 marriage;
 (c)
 unless
 freely
consented
to,
property
which
 is
owned
solely
by
a
husband's
wife
 cannot
 be
 controlled
 by
 her
 spouse. If
not,
what
is
the
 practice?

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

0

N o . 
 b a s i c a l l y 
 t h e r e 
 a r e
 customary/traditional
 practices
 with
in
our
society
though
it
is
not
 expressly
written
but
it
form
part
of
 our
 common
 Law
 Practice,
 even
 the
 martial
 certificate
 does
 not
 give
such
authority
to
the
husband
 it
is
expressly
written
that
the
wife
 should
 place
 her
 family
 name
 on
 the
 certificate
 it
 is
 just
 a
 tradition
 and
societal
norms.

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(g) A
woman
shall
 have
the
right
 to
retain
her
 nationality
or
 to
acquire
the
 nationality
of
 her
husband;

Assessment
Questions

Are
women
 aware
of
their
 rights
to
choose
 of
retaining
or
 acquiring
 nationality
of
 husband?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 the
 1986,
 constitution
 which
 was
 tough
 in
 school
 under
 civil
 provided
 the
 opportunity
 and
 created
awareness.

1

Article
 23
 a
 The
 property
 which
 a
 person
 possesses
 at
 the
 time
 of
 marriage
or
which
may
afterwards
 be
acquired
as
a
result
of
one's
own
 labors
 shall
 not
 be
 held
 for
 or
 o t h e r w i s e 
 a p p l i e d 
 t o 
 t h e
 liquidation
 of
 the
 debts
 or
 other
 obligations
of
the
spouse,
whether
 c o n t r a c t e d 
 b e fo r e 
 o r 
 a f t e r
 marriage;
 nor
 shall
 the
 property
 which
by
law
is
to
be
secured
to
a
 man
 or
 a
 woman
 be
 alienated
 or
 be
 controlled
 by
 that
 person's
 spouse
save
by
free
and
voluntary
 consent.

Article
 23.b:
 The
 Legislature
 shall
 e n a c t 
 l a w s 
 t o 
 g o v e r n 
 t h e
 devolution
of
estates
and
establish
 rights
 of
 inheritance
 and
 descent
 for
spouses
of
both
statutory
and
 customary
marriages
so
as
to
give
 adequate
 protection
 to
 surviving
 spouses
 and
 children
 of
 such
 marriages.

Are
there
existing
 procedures
for
 this?

Liberia
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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Yes.
The
Alien
and
Nationality
Law
 o f 
 L i b e r i a 
 ( 1 9 7 4 ) 
 p r o v i d e s
 procedures.

1

Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Situation/Reality
Report

Assessment
Questions

Score

The
 Aliens
 and
 Nationality
 Law
 Liberia
 (1974)
-
Codes
revised,
vol.
II:
 Page
182
subchapter
b.
section
21.30.
and
 Section
21.32

1

§
Sub
Section
21.30.
Woman
who
marries
 citizen.

A
 woman
 of
 negro
 descent
 or
 Black
color
who
marries
a
citizen
of
 the
 Republic
 shall
 become
 citizen
 by
virtue
of
such
act
of
marriage
a
 citizen
of
Liberia.
Such
woman
may
 be
naturalized
if
she
is
qualified
in
 conformity
with
all
of
the
provisions
 of
 section
 21.1
 of
 this
 title
 and
 complies
 with
 all
 the
 procedural
 requirements
for
naturalization
set
 forth
in
this
chapter.

§
Sub
Section
2.1.
Administration
of
title
 and
function
by
Attorney
General;

The
 Attorney
 General
 is
 charged
 with
the
duty
of
administering
the
 provisions
 of
 this
 title
 and
 shall
 have
 full
 power
 to
 accomplish
 all
 articles
 therein
 e ectively
 its
 aims
 and
 objectives,
 except
 that
 the
 commissioners
 shall
 be
 charged
 with
 the
 administration
 and
 enforcement
 of
 the
 provisions
 of
 this
 title
 relating
 to
 the
 powers,
 duties
and
functions
of
diplomatic
 and
 consular
 o cers,
 and
 shall
 perform
 such
 other
 duties
 as
 are
 expressly
 assigned
 to
 him
 by
 this
 title.

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Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

6
(h) A
woman
and
 man
shall
 have
equal
 rights,
with
 respect
to
the
 nationality
of
 their
children
 except
where
 this
is
contrary
 to
a
provision
 in
national
 legislation
ort
 is
contrary
to
 national
 security
 interests

Situation/Reality
Report

Assessment
Questions

Is
this
provision
 included
in
the
 constitution
of
 the
country?

Score

Yes.
 
 The
 1986
 Constitution
 of
 Liberia

1

expressly
give
the
right
to
both
parent
to
 choose
the
nationality
of
their
children.

Article
28
Any
person,
at
least
one
of

whose
 parents
 was
 a
 citizen
 of
 Liberia
at
the
time
of
the
Person's
 birth,
 shall
 be
 a
 citizen
 of
 Liberia;
 provided
 that
 any
 such
 person
 shall
 upon
 reaching
 maturity
 renounce
 any
 other
 citizenship
 acquired
 by
 virtue
 of
 one
 parent
 being
a
citizen
of
another
country.
 No
citizen
of
the
Republic
shall
be
 d e p r i v e d 
 o f 
 c i t i z e n s h i p 
 o r
 nationality
except
as
provided
by
 law;
and
no
person
shall
be
denied
 the
 right
 to
 change
 citizenship
 or
 nationality.

All
 persons
 are
 born
 equally
free
and
independent
and
 have
certain
natural,
inherent
and
 inalienable
 rights,
 among
 others;
 all
 persons
 are
 equal
 before
 the
 law
 and
 are
 therefore
 entitled
 to
 the
equal
protection
of
the
law.

 Article
 11

Do
national
laws
 guarding
 children's
rights
 make
this
 provision?

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Protocol
2019

1

Yes.

Domestic
Violence
Law;

 -
 The
Domestic
Relation
Law;
 Children's
Law;
 -
 The
 Aliens
 and
 Nationality
 Law
 Liberia
 (1974)
 -
 Codes
 revised,
vol.
II: -
 A n 
 A c t 
 t o 
 G o v e r n 
 t h e
 Devolution
 of
 Estates
 and
 E s t a b l i s h 
 R i g h t s 
 o f
 Inheritance
 for
 Spouses
 of
 B o t h 
 S t a t u t o r y 
 a n d
 Customary
Marriages.
 -

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

6
(i)

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

A
woman
and
 a
man
shall
 jointly
 contribute
to
 safeguarding
 the
interests
of
 the
family,
 protecting
 and
 educating
 their
children;

Are
there
cultural
 beliefs
and
 practices
in
 alignment
with
 this
article?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.

it's
even
beyond
cultural
beliefs
and

1

practices
(Domestic
Relation
Law
of
1973)

 Sub.
§
7.5.
Legitimacy
of
children.

The
following
provisions
govern
the
 e ect
 of
 annulling
 avoidable
 marriage
 upon
 the
 legitimacy
 of
 the
children
of
the
parties.
 (a)
W h e n 
 m a r i t a l 
 v o w s 
 i s
 exchange
both
parent
shall
 have
 the
 legal
 right
 to
 e n s u r e 
 t h a t 
 t h e
 c h i l d /c h i l d re n 
 ta ke 
 f u l l
 responsibility (b)
T h e 
 h u s b a n d 
 s h a l l
 financially
 be
 obligated
 for
 t h e 
 w e l l - b e i n g 
 o f 
 t h e
 child/children

2.
 (a)

if
a
marriage
be
annulled
 on
the
ground
of
the
idiocy
 or
the
insanity
or
adjudged
 incompetency
 of
 one
 or
 both
of
the
persons
entering
 into
the
marriage,
a
child
of
 the
parties
is
the
legitimate
 child
of
both
parties (a)
 if
 such
 circumstances
 arises
 the
 husband
 shall
 s h o u l d e r 
 t h e 
 f u l l
 r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
 o f 
 h i s
 c h i l d /c h i l d re n 
 a n d 
 a ny
 excuse
 thereof
 in
 title
 8
 page
194.
Section
15.2

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Page

1

The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
existing
 laws
compelling
 both
spouses
to
 safeguard,
 protect
and
 educate
their
 children,
whether
 still
in
union
or
 outside
the
 union?

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I




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Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
Domestic
Relations
Law
(Chapter
4.

1

Subchapter
 D.
 Sub.
 Section
 4.72;
 Sub.
 Section
4.91)
(Subchapter
A.
Sub.
Section
 4.1.)

Provides
 for
 the
 protection
 of
 the
 child
 (ren)
 of
 both
 parents.
 Each
 such
 parent
 shall
 be
 equally
 charged
 with
 their
 care,
 nurture,
 welfare
and
education.
When
such
 parents
 are
 living
 in
 a
 state
 of
 separation,
the
father
shall
be
the
 custodian
 of
 the
 minor
 children
 of
 the
marriage
as
against
the
claim
 of
 any
 person
 whomsoever;
 but
 if
 he
 is
 unable
 or
 morally
 unfit
 to
 perform
 his
 parental,
 legal,
 moral
 and
 natural
 duties
 toward
 his
 children
or
for
any
other
reasons
he
 fails
 or
 neglects
 to
 perform
 such
 duties,
 upon
 petition
 to
 a
 circuit
 court
for
a
writ
of
habeas
corpus
or
 other
 appropriate
 relief
 and
 a
 s h ow i n g 
 i n 
 t h e 
 p ro c e e d i n g s
 thereon
etc.
or
failure
on
the
part
of
 the
father,
the
minor
children
of
the
 marriage
shall
be
entrusted
to
the
 mother
or
some
other
person
who
is
 capable
of
performing
such
duties.

Page

1

Article
6: Marriage The
Article Number

6
(j)

The
Article
Content

During
her
 marriage,
a
 woman
shall
 have
the
right
 to
acquire
her
 own
property
 and
to
 administer
 and
manage
 it
freely

Situation/Reality
Report

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
laws
 that
allow
 women
to
 acquire
property
 and
administer?

Score

Yes.

The
Land
Rights
Act
(2018)
and
the
 EQUAL
 RIGHTS
 OF
 THE
 CUSTOMARY
 MARRIAGE
LAW
OF
1998

1

Chapter
7,
Article
 EQUAL
 RIGHTS
 OF
 THE
 CUSTOMARY
 MARRIAGE
LAW
OF
1998.
(Section
2.5/6) Section
2.5
-
The
property
acquired

or
owned
by
a
customary
woman,
 either
 before
 or
 during
 marriage,
 belongs
 to
 her
 exclusive
 of
 her
 husband
and
she
is
therefore
free
 to
do
any
lawful
business
in
her
own
 name,
 including
 the
 right
 to
 contract
 with
 third
 parties
 but
 to
 the
full
knowledge
and
consent
of
 her
husband. Domestic
Relations
Law
-
Title
9
-
Liberian
 Code
of
Laws
Revised
–
(Chapter
3,
Sub.
 Section
3.4)

If
not,
what
 measures
are
 being
put
in
 place
for
women
 to
own
property?

Total
Score
=
25

(100%)

Property
 and
 rights
 therein
 of
 married
women
A
married
woman
 has
 all
 the
 rights
 in
 respect
 to
 property,
real
or
personal,
and
the
 acquisition,
 use,
 enjoyment
 and
 disposition
 thereof,
 and
 to
 make
 contracts
 in
 respect
 thereto
 with
 any
person,
including
her
husband,
 and
to
carry
on
any
business,
trade
 or
 occupation
 amongst
 many
 other
things
as
the
provision
further
 states. Yes.
based
on
this
alarming
issue
in

 the
 past
 the
 government
 have
 p a s s e d 
 a 
 l a w 
 t h r o u g h 
 t h e
 legislature
for
women
to
have
land
 ownership
.

1

21

POINTS

84%

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
Assessment Article
6:
Marriage

The
domestic
relation
law
and
the
customary
law
did
not
segregate
based
on
religion
for
 marriage
the
set
minimum
legal
age
requirement
had
no
exception
to
any
of
the
religious
 grouping
 or
 ethnic
 group
 However,
 the
 research
 have
 shown
 that
 there
 is
 no
 legal
 documentation
that
compel
a
married
wife's
to
carry
the
surname
of
her
husband
in
face
 th the
Supreme
Court
handed
an
opinion
in
the
Barclay
v
Digen
LLR
774
16 
December
1999
 case
in
summary.
 Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Divorce
and
dissolution
of
marriage,
Gender
discrimination,
Property
and
inheritance
rights

Upon
divorce,
the
husband
claimed
he
was
entitled
to
a
property
acquired
during
the
 marriage
because
a
married
woman
cannot
acquire
property
in
her
maiden
name
solely
 for
herself.
The
court
held
that:
(a)
there
is
no
legal
significance
of
a
woman
choosing
to
 use
her
husband's
surname;
it
does
not
a ect
the
right
of
a
woman
to
own
property
while
 married;
(b)
a
woman
can
purchase
property
in
her
maiden
name
during
marriage;
(c)
 unless
freely
consented
to,
property
which
is
owned
solely
by
a
husband's
wife
cannot
be
 controlled
by
her
spouse. Gap:
There
are
limited
attention
provided
by
law
enforcement
agency
to
adequately
 response
to
accident
of
force
marriage,
which
if
not
handle
properly
will
lead
the
high
 increase
of
teenage
pregnancy
and
early
child
marriage
in
communities.

Gap:


The
customary
law,
the
domestic
relation
law
does
not
expressly
address
the
need
 for
wife
in
marriage
to
use
unto
them
the
surname
of
their
husband,
based
our
research
it
 is
not
expressly
written
in
any
of
the
law
people
have
been
using
such
based
on
tradition
 and
religious
believes
for
instance
church
pastors
and
mosque
Imam
after
every
holy
 matrimony
pronounce
the
couple
as
husband
and
wife
and
mentioned
the
both
couple
 as
Mr.
and
Mrs
Jones
for
instance.

Recommendations The
state
party
must
ensure
with
in
the
mandate
of
the
Women
 and
Children
Division
of
the
Liberia
National
Police
they
include
 issues
areas
adequate
protection
and
enforcement
of
women
 and
girls
against
force
marriage

State
party
much
clearly
define
through
the
development
of
a
 policy
that
allow
spouses
(Wife)
whether
or
not
to
use
the
surname
 of
her
husband

The
Ministry
of
Internal
A airs
must
be
able
to
digitize
the
marry registration
and
records
system
and
update
it
files
with
current
 information

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

12
(a) Eliminate
all
 forms
of
 discrimination
 against
 women
and
 guarantee
 equal
 opportunity
 and
access
in
 the
sphere
of
 education
 and
training;

Assessment
Questions

What
are
the
 mechanisms
the
 government
has
 put
in
place
to
 eliminate
all
 forms
of
 discrimination
 against
women
 in
education?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 the
 Government
 of
 Liberia
 has
 put
 in
 place
 some
 policy
 f r a m e w o r k 
 t o 
 m i t i g a t e 
 t h e
 discrimination
 in
 education
 for
 i n s ta n c e 
 t h e 
 N a t i o n a l 
 G i r l s
 Education
 Policy,
 the
 Inclusive
 Education
 Act
 The
 National
 Girls
 Education
Policy.

1

GOALS
AND
OBJECTIVES

The
Girls'
Education
Policy
seeks
to
 consolidate
 national
 and international
laws
to
promote
girls'
 e d u c a t i o n 
 a n d 
 to 
 a d v a n c e
 priorities
 that
 will
 accelerate
 p ro g re ss 
 i n 
 i m p ro v i n g 
 g i r l s '
 education.
 Chapter
43.1

The
 MoE
 shall
 ensure
 women
 and
 girls
 activities
 are
 mainstream
 across
 every
 primary,
 secondary
 and
senior
secondary
institution
of
 learning
 and
 there
 should
 be
 a
 zero-tolerance
 discrimination
 of
 student
including
women
and
girls 43.10

School
Safeguarding

Ensure
 that
 all
 learning
 institution
 s u b m i t 
 i t 
 c h i l d 
 a n d 
 y o u t h
 safeguarding
 plan
 to
 the
 County
 E d u c a t i o n 
 O c e r 
 i n 
 t h e i r
 respective
 county
 of
 operation
 21
 days
prior
to
opening
of
the
start
of
 the
new
academic
year,
no
student
 shall
 be
 discriminated
 against
 regardless
of
whatever
means.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
any
 national
 initiatives
to
 ensure
women
 equally
access
 education
and
 training
 opportunities?

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

1

Yes.
 The
 Ministry
 of
 Education
 4year
 ago
 launch
 the
 girls
 take
 over
 campaign
 that
 campaign
 in
 which
YOCEL
was
a
part
provided
 access
 and
 encourage
 girls
 and
 y o u n g 
 w o m e n 
 t o 
 c o n s i d e r
 education
as
a
means
and
ways
of
 taken
over,
since
2016
this
program
 has
 been
 running
 and
 with
 the
 support
 from
 the
 Word
 Bank
 we
 saw
 an
 increase
 in
 the
 number
 of
 girls
 and
 young
 women
 ratio
 to
 enrollment
and
completion
of
their
 education.

Buttressing
 that
 e ort
 ECOWAS
 in
 2016
launch
a
scholarship
program
 for
Girls
and
Boys
of
Excellence
with
 special
 emphasis
 on
 girls,
 when
 qualified
 for
 this
 program
 it
 allow
 you
to
join
the
ECOWAS
Volunteers
 Program
 that
 provide
 training
 opportunities
 for
 girl
 and
 young
 women
 in
 2018
 –
 2019
 35
 persons
 Liberian
are
in
eight
(8)
West
African
 Countries
 Working
 as
 ECOWAS
 Volunteers
with
international
NGOs
 and
 the
 ECOWAS
 Community
 Embassy
among
them
60%
are
girls
 and
young
women.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

12
(b) Eliminate
all
 stereotypes
in
 textbooks,
 syllabuses
 and
the
 media,
that
 perpetuate
 such
 discrimination;

Is
there
any
 national
 mechanism
in
 place
to
vet
 content
in
 textbooks,
 syllabuses
and
 media
before
 publication
and
 broadcast?

The
Article Number

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

No.
 
 such
 mechanism
 was
 just
 discussed
in
2019
the
structure
has
 been
put
in
place
with
the
support
 from
development
partner.
It
is
our
 hope
 that
 in
 2021
 that
 committee
 will
now
be
fully
structure
with
the
 support
 to
 operate.
 Currently
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Education
 approach
 textbooks
 and
 Syllabuses
 but
 the
 framework
 have
 been
 faced
 with
 many
challenges.

0

To
what
extent
 does
vetting
 mechanism
 address
 stereotyping
and
 discrimination
of
 women?

No.
 
 this
 has
 not
 been
 an
 hosltic
 approach
 it
 is
 based
 on
 isolated
 cases
for
stereotyping
many
days
 students
 mostly
 girls
 are
 been
 stereotype,
 discrimination
 it
 is
 e x p re ss l y 
 m e n t i o n e d 
 i n 
 t h e
 National
Girls
Education
Policy.

0

Are
there
any
 punitive
 measures
for
 perpetrators
of
 the
stereotyping
 and
 discrimination
of
 women?

Yes.
 
 There
 are
 punitive
 measure
 on
the
books
The
Teachers
Code
of
 Conduct;
 the
 National
 Gender
 Policy
 of
 Liberia
 (2009);
 Code
 of
 Conduct
for
Teachers
and
Schools
 Administrators
in
Liberia
(2014);
The
 National
 Girls
 Education
 Policy
 all
 p r o h i b i t s 
 S t e r e o t y p i n g 
 a n d
 penalize
 perpetrators
 but
 the
 monitoring
 on
 enforcement
 has
 been
limited.

1

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I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

12
(c) Protect
 women,
 especially
the
 girl-child
from
 all
forms
of
 abuse,
 including
 sexual
 harassment
in
 schools
and
 other
 educational
 institutions
 and
provide
 for
sanctions
 against
the
 perpetrators
 of
such
 practices;

Are
there
 national
 provisions
 protecting
the
 girl
child
from
all
 forms
of
abuse
 including
sexual
 harassment
in
 schools
and
 other
education
 institutions?

The
Article Number

What
are
the
 enforcement
 mechanisms
and
 punitive
 measures
or
 sanctions
in
 place
protecting
 women
and
girls
 from
perpetrators
 of
such
 practices?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Ye s . 
 
 C o d e 
 of 
 C o n d u c t 
 fo r
 T e a c h e r s 
 a n d 
 S c h o o l s
 Administrators
in
Liberia
(2014) Section
6.4.2

1

Yes.
 
 the
 ministry
 of
 education
 have
 established
 the
 County
 School
Board,
the
Education
Tasks
 Force
and
education
watch
forum
 these
institution
are
responsible
to
 monitor
 the
 daily
 school
 activities
 for
each
county
and
report
to
the
 County
School
Board
Monthly,
with
 in
these
structure
there
are
redress
 mechanism
 in
 every
 county
 Civil
 society
are
also
be
selected
to
join
 the
committee.

1

In
 keeping
 with
 the
 Civil
 Service
 Standing
 Order
 2012,
 penalty
 for
 the
 conviction
 of
 felony
 is
 dismal
 s u c h 
 t e a c h e r s / s c h o o l
 administrators
 and
 when
 form
 guilty
 shall
 be
 remanded
 for
 a
 period
 of
 2years
 in
 a
 local
 prison
 and
photo
publish.

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

12
(d) Provide
 access
to
 counseling
 and
 rehabilitation
 services
to
 women
who
 su er
abuses
 and
sexual
 harassment

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
 functional
 counseling
and
 rehabilitation
 centers
for
 women
and
girls
 that
experience
 or
have
 experienced
 gender-based
 violence?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 The
 Ministry
 of
 Education
 have
 developed
 a
 Gender
 Based
 Violence
 framework
 and
 steering
 c o m m i t t e e 
 c o m p r i s e d 
 o n
 international
 NGOs,
 Civil
 Society,
 Ministry
 of
 Internal
 A air
 and
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Gender.
 Within
 the
 County
 School
 Board
 there
 are
 psychosocial
 counsellors,
 in
 2017
 we
experience
a
situation
in
Liberia
 from
 the
 More
 Than
 Me
 Academy
 re p o r te d 
 by 
 P ro P u b l i c a 
 t h i s
 situation
 claims
 international
 a t t e n t i o n , 
 s i n c e 
 t h a n 
 t h e
 government
has
been
very
strong
 on
this
issue
and
have
put
in
policy
 measure
and
the
setting
of
various
 committee
and
the
functioning
to
a
 greater
extend.
 
So
based
on
the
 lesson
 learned
 government
 have
 put
 in
 place
 systems,
 imagine
 if
 it
 was
not
an
alarming
situation.

1

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

12
(e) Integrate
 gender
 sensitization
 and
human
 rights
 education
at
 all
levels
of
 education
 curricula
 including
 teacher
 training.

Assessment
Questions

What
 mechanisms
has
 the
government
 put
in
place
to
 ensure
that
the
 national
 curriculum
for
 leaners
is
gender
 sensitive
and
 inclusive
of
 human
rights?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 The
 Government
 of
 Liberia
 developed
 the
 Getting
 to
 Best
 National
 Education
 Sector
 Plan
 2017
–
21,
the
plan
also
engendered
 an
 inclusive
 framework
 that
 deals
 w i t h 
 g e n d e r 
 m a i n st re a m i n g ,
 gender
 equality
 and
 address
 the
 human
 right
 issues
 and
 school
 related
 gender
 based
 violence.
 However
 the
 education
 sector
 analysis
of
2016
provided
a
detail
of
 the
 program
 made
 and
 how
 the
 government
dealt
with
the
human
 right
issues
and
the
plan
that
have
 been
develop. For
 instance
 Children
 from
 poor
 and
rural
households
are
less
likely
 to
 complete
 basic
 education
 compared
to
children
from
wealthy
 and
urban
households
(Figure
ESE).
Analysis
from
DHS
2013
indicates
 that
fewer
than
47
percent
of
youth
 1 0 
 to 
 1 9 
 y e a r s - o f - a g e 
 f ro m
 households
 in
 the
 lowest
 two
 wealth
quintiles
survive
to
Grade
6.
 In
 comparison,
 88
 percent
 of
 equivalently
 aged
 youth
 from
 households
 in
 the
 highest
 quintile
 of
 wealth
 survive
 to
 Grade
 6.
 In
 terms
 of
 locality,
 70
 percent
 of
 youth
aged
10
to
19
years-of-age
 in
urban
areas
survive
to
Grade
9,
 compared
 to
 only
 35
 percent
 of
 their
peers
in
rural
areas.

1

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Is
gender
 mainstreaming
 (education
 budgets,
sector
 plans,
and
 monitoring
 frameworks)
 incorporated
in
 the
current
 national
 education
 system?

Does
the
 teacher-training
 curriculum
in
key
 government
and
 private
 institutions
 incorporate
 gender
 responsive
 teaching
 methodologies?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Y e s . 
 
 i t 
 c a p t u r e 
 g e n d e r
 mainstreaming
 and
 an
 inclusive
 policy
 have
 been
 developed
 for
 girls
 and
 young
 women,
 been
 privilege
 to
 sit
 on
 the
 education
 budget
committee
in
2018
there
are
 substantial
process
made
in
regard
 to
 budgetary
 allocation
 to
 the
 education
 sector
 from
 2017
 
 the
 b u d g e t a r y 
 s u p p o r t 
 t o 
 t h e
 education
 sector
 was
 14.1
 in
 2020
 t h e 
 b u d g e t 
 s u p p o r t 
 t o 
 t h e
 education
sector
is
15.8%
with
huge
 development
 partners
 support
 c u r r e n t l y 
 t h e r e 
 a r e 
 g o o d
 monitoring
mechanism
put
in
place
 at
the
Ministry
of
Education
based
 o n 
 s u p p o r t 
 f ro m 
 U SA I D 
 a n d
 through
the
County
School
Board
 the
situation
have
improved.

1

Yes.
 
with
in
the
Education
Reform
 Act
 of
 2011charter
 7
 Inclusive
 Education
 and
 sub
 section
 7b
 Gender
Responsive

1

Sub
 section
 7b
 every
 training
 and
 learning
 material
 shall
 consider
 a
 gender
responsive
module
for
both
 public
 and
 private
 school
 each
 institution
of
learning
in
the
republic
 shall
 develop
 its
 own
 gender
 response
training
plan
and
method
 and
 shall
 be
 submitted
 to
 the
 County
School
Board.
And
onward
 to
the
Minister
of
Education.

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

12.2 
(a)

The
Article
Content

Promote
 literacy
 among
 women;

Assessment
Questions

Are
there
any
 formal
and/or
 informal
 programs
aimed
 at
enhancing
 literacy
among
 women?

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Yes.
 
 The
 Government
 of
 Liberia
 developed
 an
 Adult
 Literacy
 P r o g r a m 
 s e c t i o n 
 3 . 1 
 T h e
 Accelerated
Learning
Program
The
 Accelerated
 Learning
 Program
 (ALP)
 established
 in
 1998,
 targets
 primary,
 secondary
 and
 senior
 secondary
 school
 students
 who
 have
overgrown
the
entry
age
of
6
 years
 and
 are
 not
 in
 school.
 The
 normal
 6
 years
 curriculum
 school
 was
condensed
and
structured
to
 enable
student
in
this
category,
this
 program
 also
 focuses
 of
 young
 women
 to
 enhance
 their
 written
 and
 reading
 skills
 making
 them
 literary.

1

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

12.2 
(b)

The
Article
Content

Promote
 education
 and
training
 for
women
at
 all
levels
and
 in
all
 disciplines,
 particularly
in
 the
fields
of
 science
and
 technology;

Assessment
Questions

Situation/Reality
Report

Score

Are
there
 mechanisms
in
 place
to
boost
 gender
parity
in
 the
enrolment,
 retention
and
 transition
of
 women
and
girls
 in
all
levels
of
 education?

Yes.
 
Education
Sector
Plan
2017
21
 the
 Education
 Sector
 Analysis
 and
 the
 Join
 Education
 Sectorial
 Committee
 reports
 all
 speaks
 to
 boosting
 the
 enrollment,
 retention
 and
completion
of
girls
in
school.
In
 May
2018
the
World
Bank
release
a
 report
 the
 finance
 they
 give
 to
 Liberia
 in
 the
 last
 five
 within
 that
 report
there
were
major
process
in
 the
 enrollment,
 retention
 rate
 of
 girls
 by
 18%
 to
 the
 previous
 years
 but
 completion
 rate
 drop
 4%
 decline
in
last
2years.

1

Are
there
 national
policies,
 strategies,
or
 initiatives
to
 enhance
women
 participation
in
 STEM
courses
 and
fields?

Yes.
 
the
national
Curriculum
and
 education
 sector
 plan
 included
 STEM
 education
 in
 2017
 and
 this
 was
 furthered
 enforce
 in
 2018
 by
 the
 Vice
 President
 Liberia
 during
 the
 STEM
 education
 symposium.

 That
concept
have
role
out
in
some
 school
 in
 Montserrado
 mainly
 Private
 schools
 (
 JJR
 High
 School,
 Light
 Stream
 Academy,
 School
 of
 P r i m e 
 S y s t e m , 
 D o n - B o s c o
 Polytechnic)
among
others.

1

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Article
12: Right
to
Education
&
Training The
Article Number

12.2 
(c)

Situation/Reality
Report

The
Article
Content

Assessment
Questions

Promote
the
 enrolment
and
 retention
of
 girls
in
schools
 and
other
 training
 institutions
 and
the
 organization
 of
 Programmes
 for
women
 who
leave
 school
 prematurely.

What
measures
 has
the
state
 instituted
to
 promote
the
reentry
of
out
of
 school
girls
and
 women
in
formal
 education
 system?

Yes.

the
government
have
gotten
 i n 
 p a r t n e r s h i p 
 t h r o u g h 
 t h e
 P a r t n e r s h i p 
 S c h o o l 
 L i b e r i a
 Program,
(PSLP)
and
there
are
few
 Partnership
 schools
 that
 are
 working
 directly
 to
 ensuring
 reentry
 of
 out-of-school
 youth
 (Bridge
 and
 Rising
 Academy)
 but
 one
 Partnership
 school
 based
 in
 eight
(8)
out
of
15
counties
that
are
 working
 exclusively
 with
 girls
 and
 young
women
below
21
years
 
The
 Girls
Equitable
Education
Program
 (GEEP).

1

Has
the
 government
 invented
criteria
 to
reintegrate
the
 out
of
school
girls
 into
Vocational
 training?

Yes.
 
 the
 government
 over
 the
 last
 20
 have
 developed
 a
 Technical
 Vocational
 E d u c a t i o n 
 Tr a i n i n g 
 ( T V E T ) 
 a s 
 a
 reintegration
 program
 for
 out-of-school
 girls
and
youth
and
the
TVET
Programs
is
 place
 in
 three
 out
 of
 the
 4
 region
 in
 the
 country.
 The
 European
 Union
 have
 been
 providing
 support
 to
 the
 Ministry
 of
 Education
 and
 Youth
 and
 Sport
 through
 their
“Youth
Rising”
with
in
the
Youth
Rising
 Project
girls
have
been
the
center
of
the
 project
outputs.

1

Total
Score
=
16

(100%)

Score

14

POINTS

87.5%

Outcome
of
the
Country
Level
Assessment Article
12:
Right
to
Education
&
Training

Education
is
a
fundamental
human
rights
Sustainable
Development
Goal
#:4
globally
to
 be
implemented
by
2030
and
then
having
critical
reflection
on
the
education
sector,
the
 educational
system
of
Liberia
is
hampered
by
so
many
factors
which
have
resulted
in
the
 poor
output
of
students.
In
2013,
25,000
students
sat
the
University
of
Liberia
placement
 exams
 with
 no
 one
 passing
 both
 subjects
 (Math
 and
 English).
 For
 the
 last
 five
 years,
 students
have
reportedly
underperformed
in
national
exams.
 
The
cause
of
this
chaos
 can
be
attributed
to
inadequate
schools
and
supplies,
as
well
as
a
lack
of
qualified
 teachers,
low
finances
to
the
sector
and
corruption.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Moreover,
the
completion
rate
of
school
going
students
mostly
girls
have
been
very
low
 according
to
the
World
Bank
2018
Report.
In
Liberia
42%
of
primary
aged
children
are
 currently
out
of
school
and
it
is
even
higher
for
the
poorest
GPE
2017
index
report.

This
 alarming
 situation
 is
 as
 a
 result
 of
 several
 factors
 including
 proximity
 to
 school,
 poverty
and
rural
status.
Most
children
with
disabilities
do
not
attend
school.
School
fees
 and
indirect
costs
are
the
major
barriers
to
access
and
causes
of
students
dropping
out
 of
school.
Over
half
of
out-of-school
children
live
in
rural
communities,
particularly
remote
 rural
 communities;
 those
 that
 reside
 in
 urban
 areas
 are
 typically
 living
 in
 slums.

 Approximately
 60%
 of
 out-of-school
 children
 live
 in
 poor
 households
 with
 low
 or
 no
 disposable
income.
 Gap:
 
 
 The
Ministry
of
Education
over
the
last
5
years
have
stop
providing
courses
and
 textbooks
prescribed
to
all
school
across
the
country
in
line
with
section
8.9
of
the
2011
 Education
Reform
Act
of
Liberia.

Gap:
 
 
 Since
 2018
 according
 to
 the
 World
 Bank
 Report
 there
 have
 been
 more
 girls
 enrollment
in
schools
but
the
completion
rate
of
have
drop
8%
as
compared
to
previous
 years.

Gap:
 

Though
there
are
policy
in
place
on
gender
mainstreaming
and
gender
parity
but
 those
policies
have
not
been
fully
implemented
by
the
Ministry
of
Education.

Recommendations

State
Party
must
ensure
the
full
implementation
of
the
Education
 Reform
Act
of
2011

State
Party
must
develop
a
strategic
role
map
for
the
full implementation
of
all
of
the
girls
and
young
women
policies
to
 show
the
real
reflection
of
what
is
mentioned
in
the
Education
 Sector
Plan

State
Party
must
develop
and
provide
courses
and
textbooks
 to
all
public
and
private
school
across
the
country
starting
with
 the
next
academic
school
year

Possible
Areas
for
Future
Advocacy
 Advocate
for
the
full
implementation
of
the
Education
Reform
 Act
of
2011

Advocate
and
lobby
with
the
Ministry
of
Education
to
develop
 a
strategic
role
map
for
the
implementation
of
the
girls
and
 young
women
policies

Lobby
with
the
County
School
Board
and
the
Ministry
of
Education
 to
develop
an
alimented
reporting
system
to
monitor
and
 performance
of
teachers
and
full
implementation
of
the
Teacher
 Code
of
Conduct
and
School
Harassment
Policy

Advocate
with
the
County
School
Board
to
ensure
that
all
private and
public
submit
a
workable
safeguarding
work
plan
as
a
means
 of
ensuring
that
girls
are
fully
protected
and
they
are
not
harassed
 and
sexually
abused.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Conclusion Liberian
 women's
 civil
 liberties,
 including
 access
 to
 public
 space
 and
 political
 participation,
are
guaranteed
by
law,
but
yet
women
in
Liberia
su er
disproportionately
 from
the
e ects
of
poverty
and
marginalization,
and
they
have
historically
had
limited
 opportunity
 to
 participate
 in
 the
 political,
 economic
 and
 social
 processes
 that
 can
 change
 their
 condition.
 According
 the
 to
 2017
 statistics
 from
 the
 World
 Population
 Review,
women
makeup
49.56%
of
Liberia's
estimated
4.4
million
population,
compares
to
 the
2008
census
population
of
3.47
million.
This
signfies
how
the
percentage
of
women
in
 Liberia
is
critical
to
changing
the
paradigm
of
decision
making
but
yet
women
remain
 backbencher
in
the
Liberia's
political
landscape.

The
 Protocol
 to
 the
 African
 Charter
 on
 Human
 and
 Peoples'
 Rights
 on
 the
 Rights
 of
 Women
in
Africa
when
furthered
to
detail
the
approach
of
state
parties
in
eradicating
all
 forms
of
discrimination
against
women
as
compare
to
the
Convention
on
the
Elimination
 of
 All
 Forms
 of
 Discrimination
 against
 Women
 (CEDAW)
 among
 other
 international
 agencies,
many
at
times
Civil
Society
Organizations
working
on
gender
issue
miss-out
on
 the
two
instructions
and
wonder
wish
one
should
be
given
precedent.

As
a
matter
of
fact
the
Convention
came
into
existence
by
the
United
Nations
General
 Assembly
in
1979
commonly
call
the
International
Bill
of
Rights
for
Women
it’s
limitation
 does
not
speak
to
the
African
Context
and
it’s
articles
are
not
detailed.

However,
 the
 African
 Union
 also
 adopted
 the
 (CEDAW)
 as
 a
 working
 framework
 for
 members
states
but
women's
rights
in
Africa
were
underrated,
ignored,
trampled
upon
 and
violence
became
pervasive
undermining
the
culture
values
with
no
justification
for
 said
actions.
Some
customs
where
proven
to
be
quite
detrimental
to
women
for
instance
 female
genital
mutilation
(FGM),
wife
beating,
early
child
and
force
marriage,
denial
of
 property
rights
and
inheritance
among
others.

The
 African
 Union
 hurriedly
 convened
 to
 arrest
 the
 alarming
 situation
 in
 Maputo,
 Mozambique
on
July
11,
2003
to
developed
the
“The
Protocol
to
the
African
Charter
on
 Human
and
People's
Rights
on
the
Right
of
Women
in
Africa
better
known
as
the
Maputo
 Protocol
that
is
more
detailing,
addressing
the
issues
on
the
continent
of
Africa's
and
 implemented
by
African.

This
scorecard
is
in
response
to
the
Maputo
Protocol
and
hereby
provoked
a
new
course
 of
 advocacy
 for
 civil
 society
 organizations
 in
 Liberia.
 The
 government
 has
 made
 incremental
progress
per
the
scores
in
Education
and
Training
and
Marriage
but
there
 are
still
much
work
need
to
be
done
in
Eliminating
Harmful
Practices.

YOCEL
have
set
the
standard
for
policy
advocacy
very
high
to
ensuring
government
 compliance
to
local,
regional
sub-regional
and
international
instruments.
This
send
a
 signal
that
the
watch
dogs
of
society
are
keenly
interested
in
the
decision
they
will
make
 in
line
with
what
the
state
have
signed,
ratified
and
adopted
as
a
part
of
the
body
of
law
 that
should
govern
the
country.

This
scorecard
provided
civil
society
the
opportunity
to
 identify
 and
 bring
 to
 the
 attention
 of
 the
 government
 the
 gaps
 in
 regards
 to
 policy
 implementation,
enforcement
of
Laws,
adequate
review
of
existing
laws,
avoid
conflict
in
 the
 law
 when
 it
 interpretation
 are
 not
 clear,
 avoid
 duplication
 of
 policies
 and
 the
 disparities
for
the
protection
of
women
and
girls.

Liberia
ScoreCard





I




Maputo
Protocol
2019

Page

1

Yocel4Yocel

Youth
Coalition
For
Education
in
Liberia
(YOCEL)

Paynesville,
Liberia P.O.Box
50101 GSA
Road,
Kola
Tree
Junction 1000
Monrovia,
10
Liberia

Email:
info@yocel.org Tel:
+231
776
087
515




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886
133
885 Designed
&
printed
by 
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Group
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Companies +231775790828 
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@2019

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