Amnesty Activism

(You can find the background information below!)

Your Excellency,

 I am writing to acknowledge the efforts made by the Government of Liberia and international community to ensure the needs of women associated with the fighting forces (WAFF) and girls associated with the fighting forces (GAFF) are met. I understand that a more gendered and comprehensive approach to the final phase of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (NCDDRR) programme was adopted in October 2008 and that 36 percent of the people participating are women from all 15 Liberian counties. 

However WAFF and GAFF continue to face challenges of reintegrating into society. From July-November 2008, Amnesty International launched a film screening tour of Women of Liberia: Fighting for Peace, which highlights how women and girls continue to face overwhelming difficulties and responsibilities in post-conflict Liberia.  Amnesty International worked closely with LICONGO (a coalition of Liberian organizations), the NCDDRR and two women featured in the film. There were screenings in all 15 Liberian counties targeting WAFF and GAFF, women’s organizations, the Ministry of Gender and other interested parties. Following the screenings, discussions were held with the audience regarding issues raised in the film and what WAFF and GAFF still require for full reintegration.

I congratulate the NCDDRR for including more women’s groups in the rehabilitation process. However, Amnesty International found that women’s groups often lacked training and capacity to fully reach out to WAFF and GAFF. Amnesty International also found that where psycho-social counselling is available, it is extremely limited. Even where women’s organizations are able to provide counselling, they have limited funds and capacity to sustain long term care.

Many women that Amnesty International spoke to continue to experience symptoms and pain from sexual violence and rape, and require medical treatment. Since the war, incidences of sexual violence against women and girls in families, schools and communities continue to rise. Few women have access to appropriate medical care and many are poorly educated, largely untrained and jobless.

I ask that you please consider Amnesty International’s recommendations to continue reintegrating women and girls from post-conflict Liberia into society.

Amnesty International calls on you to:

·         Encourage the NCDDRR to increase the capacity of women’s groups;

·         Ensure that specific gender dynamics related to access to land and housing are considered;

·         Ensure that psycho-social counselling is available in communities to all those (women, men and children) who need them; 

·         Ensure that medical facilities are accessible to women experiencing particular health problems related to their experience of conflict; 

·         Ensure that education and training programmes are accessible and flexibly designed to meet the needs of women and girls, including ensuring that funding is allocated for child care and/or other necessary arrangements, to allow women and girls to participate in training; 

·         Ensure that micro-credit schemes and business training are options within the overall reintegration package.

 Thank you for your attention on such an important issue.

 Yours faithfully, 

Link for the online petition: http://web.amnesty.hu/h%C3%ADrek/online-pet%C3%ADci%C3%B3.html Please help with your signature!!!