medica mondiale in Liberia -Working for women‘s rights and

empowerment

Area: West Africa (43 km²) Population: ~ 4 million

17 ethnic groups with different languages: Krahn, Kru, Grebo, Sapo, Mandingo, Bassa… HDI: 182 (of 187 countries)Gender Inequality Index: 139 (of 146 countries)Maternal mortality rate: 770 of 100.000 (Germany: 7)Child mortality rate: 107 of 1000 (Germany: 4)

Facts and Figures

History of the Civil War

1989 Charles Taylor overthrows Samuel Doe; begin of a bloody civil war that lasts for 14 years

2003 „Accra“ peace agreement signed and UN mission sent to Liberia (UNMIL)

2006 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected first female president in Africa

„We were running, running, running…“

Rape and sexualized violence during the war

„Nobody is safe here“

Violence against women

after the war

Sexualised violence in Liberia today

A favorable political framework but:

Health care services not working properly Justice system not working properly Insufficient counseling services for women to deal with war trauma

and with ongoing gender based violence Little awareness for violence against women, taboos prevailing,

shame No protection for women!!!

Central Prison in River Gee, 2006

What is medica mondiale Liberia

doing to improve the situation?

Project area: South-Eastern Liberia

… getting there

Musu‘s story

Normality of violence against women

We train community women as counselors and focal points for SGBV

Lack of knowledge,

disregard for women‘s

needs, insensitivity

We train the police

Lack of knowledge, lack of resources

Hos

pita

l

Our trainings in clinical management of rape and the trauma-sensitive approach

are certified by the Ministry of Health

Lack of knowledge and awareness, corruption

Loca

l cou

rt o

ffic

ials

We train court officials

We provide psychosocial counselling

We support the Gender Ministry to coordinate the „SGBV-Taskforce“

We seek income generating activities

We promote the prevention of violence through community awareness campaigns

We include traditional authorities and elders in trainings and sensitization

Community level

Individual survivor Safe housesSafe houses

Income Income generating generating activitiesactivities

Psychosocial Psychosocial counselingcounseling

Health training Health training + counseling + counseling

Legal training Legal training + counseling+ counseling

County level

Community counselors Women solidarity groups

National level

medica mondiale Liberias‘

Protection network

Courts

Police

Referrals

Health clinics

and hospitals

Other (I)NGOs

SGBV-TaskforcesSGBV-Taskforces

Referrals

Referrals

Referrals

Documentation of Human Rights

violations;

Support of policy development

What we need your support for?

- to reach out to more communities - to continue improving human rights for women- to contribute to ending gender based violence - to promote social change

Medica Liberia is a dynamic, independent and viable women's rights organisation, focussing on protection and empowering of women and girls affected by gender-specific violence.

Project goal

The new Liberian Country Director Caroline Bowah Brown

Learning how to plan projects

Learning how to set up a budget

Learning how to monitor the work

Developing a strategy together

Mary‘s message

Thank you!

medica mondiale e.V.Hülchrather Str. 450670 Kölnwww.mediamondiale.org

medica mondiale Liberia

Missionmedica mondiale Liberia is a feminist organization with transformed and

self-determined women providing quality services through capacity building, counseling, awareness raising and advocacy for women and girls

affected by all forms of gender based violence.

An inclusive, peaceful and violent-free society for women and girls

Vision