LIBERIA: Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is one of the most pressing issues in post-war Liberia. I've investigated it on many levels: child rape, sexual exploitation of girls in the classroom, teenage girls who must trade sex to survive, forced circumcision, and a corrupt and dysfunctional justice system.
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A midwife in northcentral Liberia counsels an 8-year old rape survivor. See my radio documentary: Wheels of Justice |
Most cases are never reported to police, and those that do are rarely prosecuted. I've taught several seminars for journalism student on how to report these issues, and produced this 30 minute documentary through the training. Another War: Violence Against Women in Liberia |
A 3-year old rape victim. Her 34-year old neighbour was convicted of rape, one of the few successful prosecutions. |
This teenage mother got pregnant after having sex with older men to survive. See my story, "Universal Education an Empty Promise for Liberia's Girls" for IPS AFRICA. |
Teenage girls are forced to fend for themselves and often trade sex for food, rent, or school fees. |
In male-dominated classrooms, female students are pressured to trade sex for grades. Radio documentary: The Cost of Education |
Liberia is hosting the first all-female police unit to serve in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. Rewti Arjunan (above) teaches martial arts to teenage boys. |
Radio documentary for CBC Radio Dispatches: Women Keeping The Peace |
Interview with Africa's first elected female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. |
