By: Taisiah K. Merfee
The House of Representatives on Thursday cited authorities of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Liberia National Police- LNP to ascertain reasons why they have not taken action to curtail street selling by children in the country.
Plenary’s decision was reached following a communication from Bong County District #6 Representative, Moima Briggs- Mensah.
Gender, Children & Social Protection Minister Williametta Piso Saydee Tarr
In her communication to the Plenary few months ago “we commemorated the 16days of Activism as a country; thereby, alarming all harmful practices and violations against women and children over the past years and finding means to eradicating these challenges”, she said.
Representative Briggs-Mensah said while the Legislature strives to curtail the menace, the number of violations against Children rights in Liberia have rapidly increased with specific interest on the number of children involved in Street Selling.
“Few years ago, I wrote this august body alarming the increase in child’s prostitution, and when the Minster of Gender, Children and Social Protection was called, she blamed it on low budgetary allocation, and now there’s another increase of violation against our children”, she added.
Police IG Patrick Sudue
The Bong County District #6 lawmaker said seeing children in the street selling is saddened and it is only important that authorities of institutions are invited to ascertain reasons and take legislative action to curtail these circumstances during the budgetary period.
“It’s my fervent hope that plenary take prompt action on this issue as it is important to protect the future leaders of our beloved state”, Rep. Mensah narrated.
Meanwhile, following the reading of the communication it was agreed by members of the House of Representative that both authorities of the Gender Ministry and Liberia National Police are expected to appear next week Thursday.
