…Demands Justice

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has strongly condemned a recent violent public assault against a woman in the Paynesville-redlight market, describing the incident as a grave violation of human rights and personal dignity.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, the woman was forcefully pulled from a motorcycle, stripped, and subjected to degrading treatment by a group of men because of her clothing. The Ministry stressed that the attack was not a form of “cultural correction” or moral enforcement but a criminal act of gender-based violence and sexual assault.

“No individual or group has the authority to violently police another person’s body, clothing, or personal freedom,” the Ministry said in its statement. It called on Liberians to shift focus from questioning what the woman wore to questioning why adults chose to commit acts of violence and humiliation.

The Ministry further condemned the filming, cheering, or defending of the attack, warning that silence or complicity perpetuates a culture of violence and impunity that threatens women and girls across the country.

Authorities, including the Liberia National Police (LNP), were urged to identify, arrest, and prosecute all individuals involved in the assault, including those captured on video or identified by witnesses. “Mob violence is not justice, and public outrage does not excuse criminal conduct,” the Ministry emphasized.

Calling for broader societal action, the Ministry invited women’s rights organizations, civil society groups, youth organizations, religious leaders, and the general public to speak out against violence toward women and girls. “Protecting the dignity, safety, and rights of women is a shared national responsibility,” the statement said.

The Ministry stressed that Liberian women and girls must be free to move, work, dress, and live without fear of harassment, assault, or public humiliation, and warned that any society permitting mob attacks undermines justice, human dignity, and national peace.

“To the perpetrators of this act, violence does not demonstrate strength, morality, or leadership. True strength is demonstrated through respect, discipline, and the protection of the rights and dignity of others,” the Ministry added.

Meanwhile, efforts are being intensified to establish contact with the victim, with the Ministry reaffirming its commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of women and girls throughout Liberia.