IPNEWS-Monrovia: In less than two weeks after organizing a massive campaign to educate the locals about the Just Equal Community (JEC) Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and the importance to eradicate traditional harmful practices in Liberia, the head of the local NGO in Gbarpolu County, has survived an alleged terrible attack by the traditional leaders for his institution’s involvement in what they termed as provocations to their belief.
The local NGO Director, Mr. Boima Coleman, alias “Domafeign”, reportedly came under attack late Friday night, October 21 by traditional leaders because of his NGO’s recent SRHR awareness on Harmful Traditional Practices during their Annual Review and Reflection Action Activity in Gbarma District in Gbarpolu County.
Accordingly, Mr. Coleman he walked for over two hours in the deep forest in his quest to seek rescue in Gbarma town, Gbarma District in the County where they are currently engaged in discussions with the local authority to probe the attack on his person.
“I was attacked and intimidated by traditional individuals headed by the Poro Society devil late last night and I was forced to escape my village and walked over two hours to get to Gbarma District headquarters, Gbarma town, to report the case. Government is saying that there is a ban on the practice but amidst the Government’s order, people are still being harassed and intimidated. All this resulted from the recent JEC and SRHR activity that was held in Gbarma” DOMAFEIGN Director told the media.
During their latest event in the County, Coleman asked the Government of Liberia to stop Certificating traditional leaders who are involved in the harmful traditional practices and adhere to their International partners’ call in order to stop stigmatizing Children growing up in their local setting.
DOMAFEIGN Director encouraged the Community-based Organizations (CBOs) to educate the public that teachers are not supposed to have sex with students for grades, no sex for jobs, no violence before during and after elections, rights to Family planning among Young Girls and Women and stop the harmful traditional practices.
Also speaking in behalf of ActionAid Liberia at their program during Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse (SHEA) and Safeguarding session, the Communications Officer Mr. Khulekani Sibindi noted that SHEA has an international policy that is meant to prevent and protect vulnerable populations especially women, children, and persons living with disabilities as well as Adults-at-risk.
“The policy has become an international working document that is compulsory to be adopted by all entities across the world, including Liberia. He further noted that all ActionAid Liberia staff and implementing partners as well their vendors are not allowed to have relationships with the beneficiaries.
Should this happen, he noted that the community members have a mandate to report to the following Numbers (0770535738 / 0778728365).
He further noted that Sexual Harassment is in three forms that includes, Verbal, Nonverbal and Physical. Some members also noted that exploitation happens a lot in work places, schools markets, which at times result in rape. He concluded by educating the men present that women are not properties, instead they are the men’s helpers.
