UN Focus June-Sept 2014 eMagazine

8/11/2019 UN Focus June-Sept 2014 eMagazine

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UNFOCUSu n i t e d n a t i o n s l i b e r i a | a t w o r k t o g e t h e r

Issue 03, Volume 11 | June - September 2014

UN Will Stay the

Course in Liberia

New Mission to

Battle Ebola

Call for Behavioral

Change to Contain

Ebola


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UN FOCUS is published quarterly by the Public Information Office, United Nations Mission in Liberia

UNFOCUS | JUNE - SEPTEMBER | 2014 JUNE - SEPTEMBER | 2014 | UNFOCUS

Message from the Special Representative

of the Secretary-General

Idevoted my regular brieng to the Security Coun-

cil on 9 September entirely to the Ebola Virus

Disease (EVD) epidemic, which has become the

gravest threat facing Liberia since the end of the

civil war.

The speed and scale of the loss of life, and the

economic, social, political and security reverberations of

the crisis are affecting the country profoundly. Health work-

ers have been particularly hard hit, with scores contractingand dying from the disease, which has severely impacted

the countrys already precarious health system.

Early on in this crisis, many communities denied that

Ebola existed at all. Slowly, government and United Na-

tions efforts have helped to diminish denial. However, so

much more is needed to raise awareness and change behav-

ior, including dangerous burial and funeral rites, with the

unprotected touching and washing of bodies. These need to

be replaced with safer rituals, which will require the com-

mitment of Liberian religious and traditional leaders.

Advocacy and community mobilization, prompt removal

of suspected EVD cases from communities, urgent and

safe disposal of bodies, and robust contact tracing are the

main elements of an effective preventive and containment

strategy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared

a roadmap to tackle the crisis in the region. The African

Union, the European Union, a number of individual coun-

tries and numerous United Nations agencies, funds and pro-

grammes have offered support. However, it will be critical

that international assistance is quickly scaled up.

Just a week after being appointed the Senior United

Nations System Coordinator on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro

visited Liberia to assess the situation. He was followed by

the head of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Herv Ladsous,

who assured Liberians of the United Nations continued

support in battling the Ebola epidemic. On 18 Septem-

ber, the United Nations Secretary-General announced the

upcoming establishment of a mission to combat EVD, the

United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response.

Since late July, UNMIL has turned its full focus on

the Ebola epidemic, and is engaged in supporting the

nationally-led response. The Mission is working through

four pillars of engagement and support: security and rule

of law; logistics;

communications

and outreach; and

coordination at

both central and

county levels.

Our military

and police con-

tinue to provideoperational advice

and support to

national counter-

parts, including embedding liaison ofcers within the Joint

Command Centre established by Liberian security forces.

We have also played a major role in the logistics of the

EVD response, both in planning and delivery of supplies.

UNMIL leads an inter-agency crisis logistics team compris

ing representatives from WHO, WFP, UNICEF, and ICRC

which is embedded within the Ministry of Health and

Social Welfare.

UNMIL is also deeply engaged in nationwide com-

munications on EVD education and prevention messages

through community outreach nationwide and through radio

programming in 17 Liberian languages.

The Ebola scourge is catastrophic for the region, and

a major challenge for Liberia, which has seen so much

hardship. UNMIL will provide its full support, and will

continue to extend the capabilities we can bring towards

ending this tragedy.

Karin LandgrenSpecial Representative of the

Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations

Operations in Liberia

8

4Security Council Briefed

on Ebolas Profound Toll on

Liberia

UN Will Stay the Course

in Liberia

UN Sets Up New Mission

to Battle Ebola

UN Coordinator for Ebola

Visits Liberia

Educating Communities

on Ebola

Call for Behavioral

Change to Contain Ebola

New schools to Promise

Better Education

12

16

CONTENTS

Economic Empowerment

and Peace-building

Project Targets over 3,000

Vulnerable Women

Men Reinforce Campaign

to End Violence Against

Women

Liberia Formulates First

Post-War Housing Policy

Sara Speaks Out

Against Sexual Violence

Guidelines on Land

Tenure Adopted

Hydro Power Gets Boost

18

22

24

28 How can Liberia stopEbola?

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8

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CHIEF OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

Russell Geekie

STAFF WRITERS

Daylue Goah

James S. King

PHOTOS

Staton Winter

Emmanuel Tobey

EDITOR AND HEAD OF

PUBLICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA

Mathew Elavanalthoduka

DESIGN & GRAPHICS

Thomas S. Blidi

Thomas G. Karyah

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4 UNFOCUS | JUNE - SEPTEMBER | 2014 JUNE - SEPTEMBER | 2014 | UNFOCUS

public and setbacks in the political process,

she noted.

UNMIL has pledged to provide its full

support and continues to review the range

of capabilities we can bring to ending this

latter-day plague which must be stopped

in its tracks, she told the members of the

Council.

Landgren said that UNMIL had turned its

full focus on Ebola

since late July and

was working in four

areas: security and

rule of law, logis-tics, communica-

tions and outreach and coordination at the

central and country level. UNMIL military

and police continue to provide operational

advice and support to national counterparts

by embedding liaison ofcers within the

Liberian security command centre, and it

was helping the justice sector to address

overcrowding in the prisons, which was an

additional concern within the Ebola context.

She noted that President Ellen Johnson

Sirleaf, with the support of the national leg-

islature, had declared a 90-day state of emer-

gency on 6 August, including the isolation

of Ebola-affected communities, suspending

some rights and instituting a curfew.

The Mission, she said was not directly

enforcing the quarantines, but was monitor-

ing all the security operations under the state

Security Council Briefed on EbolasProfound Toll on Liberia

The severity of the Ebola outbreak presented Liberia

with its gravest threat since the civil war, and the United

Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has reoriented its

activities to help stem it, the Secretary-Generals SpecialRepresentative Karin Landgren told the Security Council

in early September.

The speed and scale of the loss of lives and the economic,

social, political and security reverberations of the crisis are

affecting Liberia profoundly, said Landgren. In addition

to the ever increasing number of daily deaths, the epidemic

has put under extreme test the Governments still-weak

institutions, and generated anger and alarm among the

of emergency. Prob lems that had arisen

included lapses in pre-arranging food and

water for isolated areas as well as insuf-

cient engagement with the communities

concerned.

When the Government mounted an op-

eration to isolate the West Point area of the

capital, Monrovia, prices of essential goods

skyrocketed, and in the ensuing protests,

a 15-year old boy was fatally wounded by

troops, she pointed out. Projections of eco-

nomic growth have been revised downward

to 2.9 per cent from 5.9 per cent, she noted.

On the political front, Landgren said that

the Ebola crisis had started to strip

some progress and revealed institut

weaknesses.

Even as Liberia and its partners

respond, the disaster continues to gro

tragedy for a country that has seen so

hardship. UNMIL has pledged to pr

its full support, and continues to revi

the range of capabilities we can brin

ending this latter-day plague which m

be stopped in its tracks, and stopped

said Landgren.

Karin Landgren briefsthe Security Council

Security Council in session

UNMIL militaryand police continue

to provide opera-

tional advice and

support to national

counterparts.


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countries, Guinea and Sierra Leone, is fac -

ing an Ebola outbreak unprecedented in its

scope. The virus has also dealt a major blow

to the already-fragile health care systems

in West Africa. In Liberia, some 152 health

workers have been infected and 79 have

died. As we went to press, the cumulative

death toll suspected, probable and con-

rmed was about to cross 2,000 in Liberia.

Ladsous stressed that the actual number

of people affected may certainly be higher,

and each day that passes, the numbers

continue to grow. Stressing that this is

particularly a bad time for Liberia, he said

that UNMIL has stood beside the people of

Liberia through good and bad times.

Emphasizing that a peacekeeping mission

is not a public health operation -- this is

not what we are trained for -- he said at the

same time, it is true that UNMIL is in Libe -

ria to support the country as it has worked to

solve the root causes of a very long crisis.

It is true that we, the international com-

munity, have invested a lot over the years

The United Nations will

continue to stand by Liberia and

its neighbours currently battling

an unprecedented Ebola

outbreak, the Organizations

peacekeeping chief pledgedduring his visit to the country in

early September to assess how

the UN can further support the

country.

to bring back peace and security to Liberia,

and, more generally, to West Africa. And

it is even more true that we do not want to

[jeopardize] that patient work, stated the

head of UN Peacekeeping Operations. He

added that while UNMIL is not a public

health operator, the mission and the wider

UN system, would be on hand to ensure

Liberia moves beyond the current crisis.

You have seen the very public and

proactive position taken by the Secretary-

Generalwho has given orders to the entire

UN system to mobilize in comprehensive,

strategic [and] concrete ways to support ef-

forts to stem the epidemic, he said.

Further, Ladsous told reporters that the

Secretary-General has also announced plans

to convene a major event during the opening

of the UN General Assembly to draw further

attention to the matter.

Even though the epidemic is of unprec-

edented proportions, we know what to do

and we support the World Health Organiza -

tion in developing its work, he continued,

but achieving the goals of the UN w

require massive support from the i

tional community. That would be on

aims of the high-level meeting in New

to muster increased nancial and p

support.

Commending UNMIL and its lea

for its efforts to assist the Governme

ing the outbreak, Ladsous declared:

not leaving Liberia. We are here to st

course and to help the people of the

and their neighbours get through this

crisis.

He said that all 8,000 people at U

military, police and civilian staff

spare no effort towards that goal.

Ladsous later travelled to Accra,

to visit a logistics hub which has bee

to respond to the regional Ebola cris

Ladsous gets ready to inspect the PakM

UN will stay the course

in Liberia

I

think we owe it to

this country and its

neighbourswho are

equally affected. We

are fully committed,

to supporting Liberia,

now and in the long run, Herv Ladsous,

Under-Secretary-General for UN Peace-

keeping Operations, told the media during a

press conference.

The UN envoy was in the country to

assess how the United Nations Mission in

Liberia (UNMIL) can further support the

ght against Ebola. He held meetings with

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as well as

the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs.

Liberia, along with the other hard-hit

Ladsous, with Deputy SRSG Antonio Vigilante, meets President Sirleaf to discuss theEbola crisis in Liberia


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During a visit to Liberia

a few days after he

was appointed the UN

System Coordinator

on Ebola, Dr. David

Nabarro expressed

oncern about the rapid spread of the virus

nd called for speedy response to stop the

ransmission of the virus.

This extraor-

inary outbreak

equires an unprec-

dented response,

Dr. Nabarro said.

Addressing the

media in Monrovia,

Dr. Nabarro said his mission in Liberia was

o see rsthand the ongoing efforts to con-

ain the virus. He appreciated the role played

y the UN family in Liberia in helping the

overnment to ght the virus.

UN Coordinator for

Ebola Visits Liberia

The purpose of my visit is to see the

Ebola outbreak through the eyes of the

people, health workers, and the govern-

ment, to appreciate the issues that you face

in responding, to understand the challenges

you face and then to see what more within

the whole United Nations system we can

do with solidarity with you at this time and

to ensure support comes from every single

part within the United Nations system, Dr.

Nabarro noted.

He lauded the efforts by the healthcare

providers, the government and people of

Liberia who are at the frontline and risking

their lives in order to bring relief to people

infected with the virus. I want to say how

much I appreciated an opportunity to spend

time with the president, a number of min-

isters, civil society people and also persons

who are directly involved in addressing the

Ebola outbreak that is infecting your country

and other countries in this region.

Taking into consideration the rapid

spread of the virus, Dr.Nabarro said there

was an urgent need to increase effort in ef-

fectively responding to the health needs of

people with the virus. Its a challenge for

the world and it requires enormous courage

and effort to respond effectively and thats

what we are doing, he noted, maintaining

that the United Nations and other partners

are doing all they can to restore hope to

regions affected by the virus.

What we are talking to you about during

these visits and what your partners are talk-

ing to you for some weeks now is a way to

really increase the power of the response so

that not only is the virus brought under con-

trol and its transmission stopped but also the

people benet, the health services recover

and the economy gets back on track and

the educational and other services are also

functioning again, that food security is there

now and in the future and also the security

and stability of the nation is protected. In

order to do that, we are looking at ways to

radically step up the support provided by the

UN family. We have to do that in a way that

is quick but at the same time is super effec-

tive, said Dr. Nabarro .

Addressing the media alongside Dr.

Nabarro, Special Representative of the UN

Secretary-General to Liberia Karin Land-

gren said: We today had some very valu -

able discussions with the government and

our partners about the current critical needs

of Liberia. The government is committed to

applying the right measures together with

communities, especially Ebola-affec

communities. We need support, we n

derstanding and we need basic servi

UNMIL welcomes the Presidents st

earlier today that under no circumsta

lethal force will be used again.

Landgren noted that the epidemic

precedented not only for Liberia but

world. Its extraordinary and Liberia

partners are determined to nd an ex

nary response to meet these needs.

We have said many times that U

intends to do all it can to help stop E

Liberia Landgren stressed.

Dr. Nabarro also visited various E

treatment centres including the facili

the ELWA hospital in Monrovia. He

since been designated by Secretary-

Ban Ki-moon as the UN Special Env

Ebola.

Dr. Nabarro andLandgren tour an

Ebola isolation facility

Dr. David Nabarro (middle) addreconference held at UNMILs Headq

Monrovia at the end of his workingflanked by SRSG Karin Landgren

Assistant Director General (HealthDr. Ke

By Daylue Goah

As Liberia and the West African sub-region struggle with

the ght against the deadly Ebola virus, the United Nations

has pledged its full support in the effort to contain thedisease.


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Educating Communities on Ebola

By Carolyn Marie Kindelan

Armed with awareness posters and ipbooks and dressed

in thick rubber boots to withstand the heavy seasonal

rains, Anthony Vorkpor and his team set out to conduct

another day of Ebola education in New Kru Town, a densely

populated borough in Liberias capital city of Monrovia.

As they enter the commu-

nity, they nd over 300

people gathered outside

the local hospital, where

a dozen police ofcers,

some in riot gear, are

standing guard. The crowd is protesting the

hospitals refusal to release the body of a de-

ceased woman to her family members until

an Ebola test can be completed.

Undeterred, the four UNICEF-trained

and supported outreach workers, who are

from the local group Community Develop-

ment Services (CODES), walk right into the

centre of the town to begin their door-to-

door awareness efforts. As frontline workers

in the ght against Ebola about to reach

2,000 deaths as we go to press these ani -

mators, as they are called, cannot afford to

take the day off.

We are doing this to save ourselves

and our communities, said Vorkpor, the

CODES Field Coordinator for New Kru

Town. We have to take this challenge be-

cause we dont want the virus to spread, we

want it to leave.

Since the rst Ebola cases were con-

rmed in Liberia on 31 March, the countryhas been struggling to halt the spread of the

disease. The epidemic has occurred in two

distinct waves. The rst ended in mid-April

and totalled only six conrmed and two

probable cases. The second, which began in

late May, has been far more virulent, with

suspected, probable and conrmed cases

running into several thousands across 14 of

the countrys 15 counties.

With a wealth of experience in the areas

of health education and behaviour change

communication, UNICEF quickly took a

leading role in the social mobilization com-

ponent of the national response in collabora-

tion with the Ministry of Health and Social

Welfare. For the intensive, community-level

outreach that needed to be done, UNICEF

needed foot soldiers. So the agency looked

to its existing partners, including CODES,

and contracted them to conduct the outreach.

UNICEF currently has over 100 anima-

tors and communicators moving from house

to house in Lofa and Montserrado Counties

the epicentres of the Ebola epidemic, said

UNICEF Communications for Development

Specialist, Adolphus Scott. These teams are

working with the communities to increase

awareness, promote discussion, quell fears

and clarify misconceptions about the virus,

and how to protect oneself against it.

The Ministry of Health met with our

youth to sensitize our young people. Some

believed, but others said no, its not here.

Then the CODES animators came to help,

said Lee Wlejleh, a 19-year-old youth leader

from New Kru Town.

With support from CODES, Wlejleh and

fellow youth leaders were able to convince

many of their peers that Ebola is real. Ac-

cording to Vorkpor, one reason for CODES

effectiveness was the UNICEF-developed

Ebola awareness posters and ipbook the

animators use. Residents of New Kru Town

reinforced this assessment.

These guys are doing well to carry out

awareness, to make people to understand,

said Abraham Roberts, pointing to a copy of

the ipbook he held in his hands. And they

are doing well because of this booklet. He

also appealed to the international commu-

nity to provide more support to his country,

especially in the area of medical care for

Ebola patients.

Victoria Wesseh, a long-time New Kru

Town resident, has also beneted from

the outreach. At rst, the information she

received about the virus from the news and

other sources scared her, and even m

doubt the existence of Ebola. By vis

home more than three times, CODES

able to break through her wall of sus

According to her, it was the groups

tence and focus on concrete actions t

be taken to prevent Ebola that led to

success.

These people gave us guidelines

to prevent Ebola, she said. They to

how to protect ourselves. They brush

doubt from my mind.

Yawa and Wessehs stories show

when applied correctly, the interpers

communication strategies can work.

with the number of Ebola cases risin

day, it is clear that more outreach by

groups is desperately needed.

If we are going to stop the sprea

this deadly disease, we need to expa

efforts and recruit hundreds more co

cators to educate communities, said

And we need to continue to coordin

with the many other local and intern

groups working to raise awareness o

because none of us can do it alone.

A group of girls in Liberia reads a posterwith Ebola-prevention information

A New Kru own resident Abraham Roberts praises the Ebola awareness flipbook that the animators areusing in their local outreach.


8/17


There is denial, there is resistance, there is suspicion, sometimes

there is superstition, and often there is a lack of resources; it

means a lot of behavioral change for all of us, Landgren told a

meeting of the Bong County Ebola Taskforce and civil society

groups.

She commended the efforts of the county leadership and its

Call for BehavioralChange to Contain Ebola

By Daniel Mensah-Brande

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin

Landgren continues her tour of Liberia s counties to assess

the Ebola Viral Disease outbreak situation, with her latest

port of call being the Bong County administrative capital,

Gbarnga, where she called for behavioral change andinvolvement of all to contain the disease.

Ebola Taskforce to tackle the disease, and

stressed the need for concerted action to deal

with the outbreak.

This is no time for division; this is no

time for pointing ngers; this is no time for

blaming other people for past mistakes. This

is the time to pull together and do what we

know needs to be done to turn this horrible

epidemic around. The sad truth is that this

crisis is still accelerating; it is growing, and

it is moving faster, she pointed out.

Landgren expressed the determination

of the UN family to support Liberia turn the

tide on the disease. Where we can help,

we will. Where we cant help, we will be

your strongest advocate. The commitment of

the UN is absolute to stay on the path with

Liberia and helping see Liberia through this

catastrophe that has befallen, she reassured.

Bong County Superintendent Selena

Polson Mappy enumerated the achievements

made by the taskforce in the areas of public

awareness and contact-tracing but said there

were many challenges.

The lack of transportation for the burial

team, the closure of the two major hospitals

in the county, the uncooperative attitude of

some community dwellers, constant denial,

and our cultural practices; these are all prob-

lems that we continue to face in the battle

against Ebola, the Superintendent noted.

The biggest challenge for the health

workers in the county was to win back the

condence of the people, said the head of

Bong County Health Team, Dr. Samson

Arzoaquoi. There is the belief among the

public that the hospitals are the source of

the Ebola virus; so people are staying away

because they think that the injectables, the

chlorine, and the hand washing materi-

als used in the hospitals are the agen

the disease; this is a huge challenge,

lamented.

The SRSG, in the company of sen

UNMIL, UNICEF, and WFP ofcial

ed the Bong County Ebola Treatmen

being constructed by Save the Child

with the support from other partners

ing UNMIL.

The UN envoy also held a town h

meeting with UNMIL staff members

which, she explained the mechanism

place by UNMIL to deal with the di

and advised staff members to strictly

to preventive measures against the d

SRSGv Landgren on a guided tour of thEbola reat

SRSG Landgren gets a briefing from a staff at the Ebola facility being constructed in Gbarnga, Bong County


9/17


mud structure. We were struggling to make

our kids feel comfortable but the nature of

the building was a barrier to achieving that

goal. Students from other school passed by

our old building and mocked us. Our old

building was a laughing stock.

The Louisiana Public school was one

of the two schools recently constructed by

UNICEF and turned over to the government

of the Liberia. The other was the Charles

B. Harris Memorial School in Careysburg,

Montserrado County. Thanks to UNICEF,

with funding from the government of Japan,

the Louisiana Public School is now a sight

to behold.

We now have a building we all can be

proud of, Samuel, a student noted.

The structures include reading rooms

and gender sensitive water sanitation and

hygiene facilities.

We hope that these facilities will further

motivate our parents to send their kids to

school as early as possible, hoped Sheldon

Yett, Country Director, UNICEF-Liberia.

When we look out there and see these

young students happy and singing at the

Fatumata Gataweh was all smiles as she

gazed at the brightly colored blue and white

building that now houses the Louisiana

Public school in Montserrado County.

dedication of this facility, we have a re-

newed hope that our children are ready for

education and are beginning a journey to a

progressive life.

Yett stressed that UNICEF remains

committed to working with the government

to provide educational opportunities to the

children of Liberia.

The presence of more educational facili-

ties will ensure that all children start school

at the right time and stay in school. In order

to sustain national development, we need

a qualied workforce and providing better

educational facilities is key to developing a

competent group of people. Yett added.

Liberias Education Minister Edmonia

Davis-Tarpeh said the construction o

facilities was a big step forward in pr

ing quality and affordable education

children of Liberia.

By the dedication of these facili

have driven well on the path of mak

our children are given the kind of ed

they deserve, Tarpeh noted at the d

tion of the Charles B. Harris Memor

School.

While applauding the constructio

the modern educational facilities, Ta

stressed all hands should be on deck

sure that the children are schooled in

environment.

As Minister Davis-Tarpeh and UN

Country Director Sheldon Yett cut th

ribbon to the Charles B. Harris mem

Public School, the students dressed n

their dark blue and white uniform sa

are happy , happy to see this day.

And Wachen Harris-Bruce, Chair

of the schools board, summed up th

ings of the students and parents: Th

of the joyous days in the lives of the

of Harris Town, Careysburg.

[Editors note: All schools in Lib

currently closed due to the Ebola ou

nauguration of the school

Education Minister Edmonia Davis arpeh withUNICEFs Sheldon Yett

We used to sit

in a very old

and leaky mud

structure

New schools to PromiseBetter Education

By Romeo Juwle Togba

This is a dream come

true. For years we

have lived with the

dream that one day our

township will have a

building it can proudly call a public school.

Gataweh, 30, a kindergarten teacher at the

Louisiana Public School, said while punch-

ing her st into the sunny skies.

We used to sit in a very old and leaky


10/17


T

he team from the two

institutions was mobilizing

3,000 rural women into a

US$ 3 million community-

based economic empower-

ment project funded by the

UN Peace Building Fund.

Alice was one of the women who turned

ut to be recruited for the project. Illiterate,

nemployed and already a mother of 10

hildren, she was amongst some of the most

ulnerable women in Liberia.

Things are very hard for me. I came

ere in Tiamias Town to hustle and right

ow all that I am doing to survive is to wash

lothes for the workers of the mine, says

Alice.

Economic Empowerment and Peace-building ProjectTargets over 3,000 Vulnerable Women

prosperity in Liberias at-risk communities,

increasing the economic security of at least

4,000 women and girls.

Within ve key concession areas and

seven border counties, the project will

secure increased economic security for

women, dened by their ability to generate

and manage their own income.The 4,000 rural women will participate

in community-based training programmes

in literacy/numeracy, business skills, and

nancial management. They will also

receive assistance to form Savings and Loan

Associations.

Another key objective of the proj

enhancing access to reporting mecha

for instances of harassment, corrupti

abuse of the rights of women.

Through innovative outreach and

sensitization methods, women in tar

communities will gain the knowledgcapacity to demand respect of their r

community management of land and

resources.

These activities will be supported

newly established land desk in the M

of Gender and Development and wil

closely with womens peace building

to deliver tailored sensitization mate

to community women on specic na

resource, environment and land issu

affect their livelihoods and the futur

their communities.

In the rural mining community of

Tiamias Town, in Liberias Grand

Gedeh County, 30-year-old Alice satattentively under a mango tree listening

to a team of social workers from the

countrys Ministry of Gender and

Development and UN Women Liberia.

Some rural womenreceive advice from a

team leader

Asked whether the money generated

from washing the miners clothes was

enough for her ten children, Alice replies:

Its just peanuts but what to do? I dont

know book [Im not educated] so I just have

to do something to survive.

Alice was delighted when she came to

learn that she was recruited to be part of the

Women Community Based Peace-building

and Economic Empowerment Project

This is the kind of opportunity that we the

women in Tiamias Town have been praying

for. We are ready to learn and make our own

businesses to help our children.

The project seeks to respond to the

situation of women like Alice by investing

in them to consolidate peace and building

This is the

kind of opportunity

that we the women

in Tiamias Town

have been praying

for.

Beneficiaries of the Econo mic EmpowePeacebuild

By Winston Daryoue


11/17


The men were selected from among dozens of nominees as part of UN Womens 12th Man

Campaign, a national public awareness initiative which focuses on mens role in ending vio-

lence against women and girls. It also complements UN Womens He For She Campaign.

The men included Richard A. Wenyu, Arkie J. Tarr, George Boutini Tamba, Emmanuel B.

Lavelah, Wainright Y. Acquoi, Reverend Sylvester B. Faniah, Tommy R. Garbea, Adam N.

Abdulai, Samuel T. Bull, Aaron Koffa Wreh, Joseph M. Salee and Paul Newon.

The twelve men were presented to the public and the media at a ceremony held in Monrovia.

Today we are taking another bold step in the ght against gender-based violence and the promotion of

Men Reinforce Campaign to

End Violence Against Women

A dozen Liberian men from different regions of

the country have earned praise and recognition

for their efforts to end violence against women

and girls at the community and national levels.

gender equality in Liberia by recognizing

the efforts of these twelve distinct personali-

ties who are dedicating their time, energy

and resources to this cause, said Ghoma

Karloweah, National Programme Manager

of UN Women.

She commended the efforts by the

government of Liberia through the Ministry

of Gender and Development to address the

high prevalence of various forms of violence

against women and girls in Liberia and

stressed the need to do more.

Karloweah said last year UN Women,

with support from Sweden, embarked on the

12th Man Campaign to encourage more men

to get involved in the ght against gender-

based violence, making sure that they are

at the forefront of these efforts and seen by

other men as role models.

She said while Liberia is making some

impact in its ght to end violence against

women and girls, the country is still far away

from reaching a level where people would

understand that violence against a woman is

not just rape.

Its regrettable to note that our broth-

ers, our uncles, our sons are at the center of

these abuses against women. This is why it is

critical for men to lead the change; for men

to be champions for gender equality and the

protection of womens rights and for men to

move away from being perpetrators to pro-

tectors of the rights of women, Karloweah

noted.

The 12th Man Campaign is a commit-

ment to the realization of the Beijing+20

platform which imagines a world where each

woman and girl can exercise her freedoms

and choices, and realize all her rights.

The men were reminded that they were

ambassadors in the cause to end violence

against women and girls. Following their

example, it was hoped, that other men will

realize the need to join the campaign and

help make Liberia a safer place for women

and girls.

Speaking on behalf of the group of twelve

men, Paul Newon expressed gratitud

the public for their nomination, prom

that members of the group are aware

importance of their role in ending vio

against women and girls.

Newon, whose organization prov

micro loans to business women, said

recognition and the support from the

and UN Women have helped reinforc

individual initiatives in their commun

He urged other men to join the ca

and stressed that when fear, abuse an

timidation against women are brough

end, society benets.

Also speaking at the presentation

the 12th Man event, Head of Develo

Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy

Monrovia Ann Stdberg congratulate

Women for taking on the 12th Man C

paign and described it as a very usef

a much needed initiative as gender-b

violence is something that happens v

frequently in Liberia.

Stdberg said Sweden considers r

to the issue of sexual and gender-bas

violence as a priority.

Under the 12th Man Campaign, e

the selected male champions will rec

support from UN Women to impleme

mini project aimed at raising awaren

the impact of domestic violence and

aging more men to join the campaign

Te Government of Liberia, through the Ministryof Gender and Development is addressing the high

prevalence of various forms of violence againstwomen and girls in the country

Role Models of UN Womens 12th Man Campaign at a public presentation ceremony in Monrovia

By Winston Daryoue

Its regrettable

to note that our

brothers, our

uncles, our sons

are at the center

of these abuses

against women


12/17


ries and it aims to encourage victims, fami-

lies and communities to speak out against

the problem of child rape and report the

crime to the police. With a plot that conveys

the possibility that victims can obtain justice

for rape if they report it, and with characters

who show supportive attitudes towards child

survivors of sexual violence, the book also

promotes prevention through community

action, including individual choices that can

be made by children themselves.

We want you to leave here prepared to

be the teacher who works with the parents

in ensuring that rape is reported. We would

be happy if you leave here and become the

police ofcer who makes sure the perpetra-

tor is prosecuted. And just as well, we want

our students to become empowered and

condent enough to speak out about rape so

that it does not occur anymore said Haque,

referring to the characters in the book.

Through the Sara

booklet, students,

particularly in 4-6

grades, would be

given relevant and

accurate information on how to stay safe

from sexual abuse and steps that can be

taken in responding to possible incidents of

rape.

I agree with all of you here today, that

there is absolutely no reason why any girl

should be raped. Yet it happens every day in

Liberia, at least four times a day on average.

And these are just the cases that are reported.

That is why we cannot look at this launch

and leave only with the view that a book has

been launched, because this is not about a

book. It is about real students, real teach-

ers and real police ofcers, and regrettably,

real offenders all of whom must be reached

in different ways in order to ensure that we

effectively respond to the situation of rape,

added Haque.

Sara is an innovative and highly effec-

tive method of creating a conversation about

issues among children. The Sara Booklet

will be rolled out as part of the End Violence

against Children Initiative of UNICEF and

the Government of Liberia and is intended

to serve as a supplementary reader which

will inform students of the need to re

rape and prevent them from being vic

of sexual violence, said Annette Kia

Deputy Minister for Research and Te

Services at the Ministry of Gender.

Kiawu said the Ministry of Gende

Development will take the lead in pro

involving training and coordination o

actors and service providers in strate

programmes that would be more resp

to rape and other forms of sexual vio

These partners are the Ministries

Education, Youth and Sports, and Jus

Women and Children Protection Sec

the Liberia National Police; the Judic

Liberian Childrens Representative F

the Children Protection Network and

task forces, Kiawu noted.

Sara Speaks OutAgainst Sexual Violence

UNICEF is proud to be a partner of

the Government of Liberia in making the

protection of children from violence an

everyday concern. The Sara, Letss Speak

Out booklet we are launching today is

another sign of our commitment, said

Acting Representative of UNICEF Fazlul

Haque as he launched a reader to be used

in schools across Liberia at the Borough of

New Kru Town in June.

UNICEF Acting Representative Fazlul Haque andDeputy Gender Minister Annette Kiawu at the book

launching ceremony

By Daylue Goah

The booklet is being rolled

out as part of an integrated

initiative to end violence

against children around

the world. The book was

developed for Liberia by

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Govern-

ment of Liberia and will serve as a center-

piece for school-based efforts under the

broader initiative.

This is the second book in the Sara se-

We want you to

leave here prepared

to be the teacher

who works with

the parents in

ensuring that rape

is reported.

Students at the booklaunching ceremony


13/17


Liberia Formulates First Post-War Housing Polic

The formulation

of this policy

is parachuting

us into a new

era of private-

public partner-

ship for housing in Liberia, he said as he

launched the document.

The National Housing Policy docu-

ment notes that Liberias urban population

increased from approximately 1.7 million in

2000 to 2.7 million, representing an urban

population growth rate per year of 4.65

percent. According to statistical projections

from the National Housing Prole, urban

areas are likely to grow from 61.5 per cent in

2010 to 74 per cent in 2030.

The document also estimates that around

800,000 people live in 32 informal settle-

ments and abandoned buildings in Monro-

via, Liberias capital.

The new housing policy has been devel-

oped by the government in partnership with

UN-Habitat to direct future investments

aimed at addressing the needs of the coun-

trys growing population.

This is a key requirement for the provi-

sion of basic social services to the people,

Boakai pointed out. Housing constitutes

one of the four basic requirements for hu-

By Romeo Juwle Togba

L iberias Vice President Joseph

Nyuma Boakai recently launched

the countrys rst post-war National

Housing Policy.

Participants at the Post-war Housing Policyormulation program at the Monrovia City

Hall

Liberias Vice PresidentJoseph N. Boakaiaddresses the official

ceremony

A safe and healthy house limits

of diseases and creates a good enviro

to foster economic initiatives. Furthe

equal access to housing is furthering

justice, Kacyira stressed. The Nat

Housing Policy will help ghting ag

inequalities, p

ing the most v

able and deve

a more sustain

country.

The Chair

of the Nationa

Traditional C

of Liberia commended the governm

UN-Habitat for leading the process o

formulation of the National Housing

This is a welcome development

are ready to help roll out the policy b

plaining its importance to people in

parts of the country, said Chief Za

Kawor.

man survivalfood, clothing, housing and

dignity.

Housing is a right, a human right. It

allows people to live in physical and moral

safety, noted Deputy Executive Director of

UN-Habitat, Dr Asia Kirabo Kacyira.

Kacyira added that helping Liberia

formulate a National Housing Policy falls

within the ambit of UNHABITATs goal

of ensuring that everyone has the right to a

home.

Kacyira stressed that housing helps

people to lead a progressive and cheerful

life.


14/17


Guidelines on Land Tenure Adopted

A cross section ofparticipants at theprogramme

practices to improve governance of tenure;

that secure access to land, forestry and

sheries is key to ensuring food security;

and that governance of tenure is one of the

highest priorities of the Government and

people of Liberia.

The Guidelines are not laws but are an

agreement that dene and outline what

governance of tenure means for all peoples

of the world in both developed and develop-

ing countries. The document is a relation-

ship between management of land, forest,

sheries and all the things that can improve

peoples lives. It is intended to provide best

practice approaches that countries would

follow in the design and implementation

of laws, policies, and practices. The tenure

dossier also includes an agreed denition

of responsible governance on managing re-

Participants at a seminar on the Voluntary Guidelines

on Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) of Land,

Fisheries and Forests in June adopted a four-count

resolution aimed at promoting dialogue, participation andincreased awareness over tenure rights in Liberia at the

national, county and local level.

sources in a way that is good for all citizens,

for development, enhancing environment,

and food security.

Organized by the Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO), the Liberia Land Com-

mission and partners, the Monrovia multi-

stakeholders symposium was held under the

theme Right to Land, Right to Life. Par-

ticipants were drawn from local and national

government, County

authorities, civil

society organiza-

tions, universities,

and international

partners and donors.

The seminar also

identied several

constraints affect-

ing the process ofproper land access and tenure. Prominent

among them are the lack of awareness and

understanding of the legal and institutional

frameworks that regulate land, forests and

sheries; the lack of coordination between

stakeholders and service providers; the lack

of clarity about mandates and responsibili-

ties regarding the management of natural

resources among central government, local

authorities, traditional chiefs and communi-

ties; and formal, informal and customary

systems run in parallel, overlap and some-

times contradict each other. Another key

constraint of tenure is that formal, informal

and customary land disputes resolution

mechanisms lack efcient coordination.

Participants presented a ten-point recom-

mendation which among other things called

for the Voluntary Guidelines document to

be translated into Liberian English; for a na-

tional awareness campaign to inform people

about their rights and responsibilities related

to land, forests and sheries be prepared,

launched and implemented; and the roles

and mandates for the management of natural

resources at national, county and local levels

be claried to improve coordination.

FAOs Country Representative in Liberia

Jean-Alexandre Scaglia re-emphasized the

urgent need for a concerted and increased

collaborative approach of all stakeholders

around land tenure issues in Liberia. He

pledged FAOs commitment to promot-

ing the Guidelines and working along with

stakeholders and partners in implementing

the conference resolution.

Estelle K. Liberty, Commissioner

Policy and Programme Developmen

the Land Commission of Liberia (LC

expressed the LCs readiness to supp

Guidelines provisions. She said bec

responsible land tenure remains a pa

concern of the Commission, the LC

leaving no stone unturned in implem

the new Land Policy of Liberia. She

the need for Liberians to embrace th

because it outlines many principles

are relevant for Liberia to quickly tr

itself from a subsistence farmer or pe

trader situation to a modern-level co

She said the quicker Liberians begin

understand the provisions of the Gui

the better and quicker we begin to a

our development objectives.Bomi County Superintendent Sam

Brown said: We saw this workshop

way of solving food insecurity and m

ing land conict. We also accept the

lines as a way of buttressing our effo

county level and ensuring that we m

our land, sheries and forests well.

Etweda Cooper, Superintendent o

Bassa County, noted: We need to m

our natural resources well. If we reg

our policies it will benet us. There i

that we work together to properly re

our land tenure practices and invest i

land, sheries and forests sector for

of Liberia.

The resolution reafrmed the endorse-

ment in 2012 of the VGGT by the

members of the Committee on World

Food Security. The resolution also

agreed that the Guidelines represent

international standards and best

We saw this

workshop as a wa

of solving food

insecurity and

mitigating land

confict


15/17


County, and Booker T. Washington Institute

in Kakata, Margibi County, have earlier ben-

eted from the UNIDO Small Hydro Power

Technology Project.

A UNIDO report said a one megawatt

hydropower station installed on Mein Riverwill provide clean energy to approximately

30 per cent of households in Suakoko Town,

and 15 per cent in surrounding villages

including government institutions, and small

and medium enterprises in Bong County.

The Mein River hydro power project was

Hydro Power Gets BoostIn partnership with the United States Aid for International

Development (USAID), the United Nations Industrial

Development Organization (UNIDO) in early 2014 installed

a clean and sustainable energy equipment at the Stella

Maris Polytechnic compound in Monrovia as part of a small

hydro technology centre.

By James S. King

UNIDO mini hydro-electric energy equipment ondisplay at the Stella Maris Polytechnic Campus inMonrovia

The more than US$ 100,000

small hydro technol-

ogy facility will serve as a

research and training centre

for Liberias next genera-

tion of energy technicians

with a view to helping the country develop

its hydro energy sector.

In a country with high annual rain falls

and many rivers, this is a welcome develop-

ment. Liberias rural communities including

Phebe Medical Hospital and Cuttington

University (CU) in Sukoko, Bong County;

Tubman University in Harper, Maryland

nanced by Global Environmental Facility

(GEF) under the regional GEF Strategic

Programme for West Africa Energy Compo-

nent in collaboration with USAID.

At a training workshop on the manage-

ment of the hydro equipment, UNIDOs

Regional Representative Bafotiqui Sako

assured the Government of Liberia, partners

and participants that the UN agency remains

committed to meeting Liberias develop-

ment agenda which accords priority to

development of renewable energy.

Sako said UNIDO has identied huge ca-

pacity gap in renewable energy in Liberia.A

number of Liberians are being trained to

enhance their technical and managerial

knowledge about hydro energy.

Hoping that the establishment of the mini

hydro power project will enhance nationalpriority on sustainable energy, Sako called

on partners and the government of Liberia to

remain committed to the project. The Small

Hydro Power project was also designed

to strengthen the institutional capacities at

national and local levels for efcient imple-

mentation and management of mini hydro

power (MHP) stations throughout Liberia.

Most of Liberias current energy is

produced by diesel generators that sparsely

supply Monrovia and surroundings. Mount

Coffee Hydro Dam built in 1964 on

Paul River is Liberias largest hydro

that provided most of Liberias energ

until it was destroyed during years o

conict. Reconstruction work on Mo

Coffee Hydro plant started in 2013 a

expected to be completed in 2016.

Arun Kumar, Professor of Altern

Energy Sector at the Indian Institute

Technology, Roorkee (IITR), facilita

team leader at the training, praised L

rian government, UNIDO and partne

initiation of a clean and sustainable e

programme in Liberia. He said hydr

is a reliable source of energy provis

could accelerate Liberias developm

Liberia receives an annual high of r

fall that contribute to its high water l

suitable for hydro energy developmeKumar said.

A Liberian energy professional an

President of the Engineering Society

Liberia (ESOL), Hu-Bu Tulay said t

training enhanced their knowledge a

hydro power management and inves

We now know what to look for in o

make hydro station functional and se

able, Tulay said at the end of the te

workshop.

We now know

what to look for

in order to make

hydro station

functional and

serviceable


16/17


How can Liberia stop Ebola?

Josephine WilsonResident, Airfeld Community,

Sinkor

Farley K. WriyeeResident, Clay Street,

Monrovia

Abu Ali | Resident, Benson Street, Monrovia

Augustine U.K. BrownResident, New Kru Town, Bushrod Island

Tema Errica CokieResident, Clara Town, Bushrod Island

Austine Forkpa | Manager,Inter-Digital Printing Press, Benson Street

Kadiatu Lusu Swaray | Resident, Lynch Street, Monrovia

I think to stop Ebola all

Liberians must follow the

Ebola health tips. Stay away

from dead bodies, avoid hand

shakes, wash our hands with

water and chlorine solution

as often as possible, avoid

body contacts, cook our

foods thoroughly etc. As for

handshakes, this is the most

difcult, because Liberians

usually greet each other with

handshakes, but we must stop

that now in order to prevent

infection.Liberians must seek intervention of

God in order to stop Ebola. We shouldalso follow the Ebola prevention

messages that are put out by the

media. We should stop eating bush meat

including bat and monkey. Cook all foods

well, wash our hands with chlorine, water and

soap, not to touch or have handshakes with anyone, staying

away from dead bodies, reporting all cases of suspected Ebola

symptoms to health workers and so on.

Walesia S. CholoplayResident, Congo Town, Monrovia

We can stop Ebola if we stop shaking

hands, stop going to public places,

hugging people, because those are

some common ways of spreading the

Ebola virus according to health workers.

So it is good that we follow all the prevention

information on radio, TV and newspapers. I will also

like to say that as a Christian I believe i n the healing power of

the blood of Jesus.

The way to stop the spread

of Ebola is to avoid huge

gatherings of people, washin

our hands with soap and wa

frequently, not to touch dead

bodies, go to the hospital or

report ourselves to nearest

health facility if we feel

persistent symptoms of feve

think if all Liberians implem

those basic health rules we

could prevent the spread of

Ebola in Liberia.

I think one way to stop Ebola is to solicit foreign assistance

from humanitarian organizations and friendly countries. It is

clearly proven that government of Liberia alone cannot stop the

spread of Ebola in Liberia as evident by the high Ebola death

rate. Yes we can prevent the spread of Ebola by avoiding dead

bodies, handshakes, public gatherings and also washing our

hands always with soap and water mixed with chlorine.

Ebola can be prevented by washing our hands

with soap and water as we have been told by

health workers. No handshakes, no body contact

with someone with the virus be it relatives or

loved ones. There are those who may not want

to exercise all those measures, but for me, I will

follow every advice given by the WHO on Ebola.

Ebola situation is disheartening. People are

now living under extreme restriction. We

can no longer do those things we did before,

socializing, free business environment because

of Ebola suspicion even wives and husbands are

getting suspicious of each other. But in light of

all, we must avoid handshakes, regularly sanitize

our hands or wash our hands with soap, water and

chlorine as advised by health workers.

Prayer to God for me is the best we can do to stop Ebola in Liberia.

I know there are others who are nonreligious which means we all

must follow the advice given by medical people, wash our hands

with soap and water, dont touch dead bodies, dont shake hands

with others, stay away from large group of people, dont hug

and so forth. Let the government and all Liberians continue to

encourage our doctors and nurses to return to their various clinics

and hospitals in order to attend to sick people.


17/17

UN FOCUS, Vol. 11, No. 03

A publication of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Public Information Ofce

www.unmil.unmissions.org

UN Focus June-Sept 2014 eMagazine

Documents

Transcript of UN Focus June-Sept 2014 eMagazine