In a landmark move to advance gender equality and strengthen protections for women and girls across Liberia, the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection today officially launched the Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0. The launch marks a renewed and strengthened commitment to combating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and promoting social inclusion as a central pillar of the country’s development agenda.

In her remarks, the Minister praised the success of Spotlight Initiative 1.0**, describing it as “an invaluable contribution in our national fight against SGBV.” Building on these gains, Spotlight 2.0 expands into three additional counties, Grand Bassa, Maryland, and Bong, bringing the total to eight counties nationwide.

This enhanced phase will focus on: Strengthening protection systems against gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices, Economically empowering women to ensure meaningful participation in development processes and ensuring full inclusion of vulnerable women, especially in rural communities

The Minister extended special applause to the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) for their extraordinary partnership, leadership, and continued investment in Liberia’s efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls. She emphasized that without the EU and UN’s steadfast commitment, the nationwide impact of the Spotlight Initiative would not have been possible.

She further commended other partners, local and international who have worked tirelessly to support these efforts. Stressing the urgency of collective action, the Minister called on all Liberians to embrace the campaign with the same commitment and intensity seen during national political campaigns.

“This campaign must penetrate every corner of Liberia, churches, mosques, schools, intellectual centers, football fields, and rural communities, with the same intensity we apply during political campaigns,” she urged.

As part of the momentum surrounding the launch, the Ministry announced that within the next two days, it will convene Liberia’s first-ever National GBV Conference. The historic gathering will bring together key stakeholders to address all forms of violence against women and girls, with special focus on digital violence, an emerging challenge in the country.

The conference tackles coordination gaps among institutions, county-level response and prevention mechanisms, financing and sustainability strategies, legal reform priorities, strengthened referral pathways, including online reporting and improved data systems.

For her part, European Union Ambassador, Madam Nona Deprez said, globally, gender-based violence affects 1 in 3 women, with digital violence being one of its most insidious and fast-growing forms. “Liberia is not exception. This is why the National Theme: Unite To End Violence: Protecting All women and Children in our communities and digital spaces, is both timely and necessary.

“This is call to action for all of us and a reminder that what happens in the digital space does not remain confined to the digital space.”

“It is in this spirit that the European Union has invested in the second phase of the Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0 that we have officially launched today,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender expresses deep gratitude to H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his inclusive leadership and unwavering commitment to the rights of women and girls. She also applauded the EU, the United Nations, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, the Women NGO Secretariat, and all partners for their unflinching support and trusted