Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation & Abuse in Liberia

4.7 Press Release, 4 December 2006
“Zero tolerance is the norm” says UN Envoy at a national campaign
to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Liberia
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UNMIL/PIO/PR/142
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s government, together with national and international partners, today launched
a national campaign to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) at the City Hall in Monrovia. To ensure
the campaign reaches all of Liberia, simultaneous launch programmes were held in several parts of the
country.
Kicking off the national campaign, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in a special message re-affirmed
her commitment to the fight against SEA and its consequences in Liberia. “To address SEA effectively
requires our collective efforts, with a particular focus on prevention; prevention is a crucial first step in this
battle.” The President urged privileged and successful Liberians and members of the international community
“not to misuse your wealth and power to sexually exploit children and women.”
Reiterating the commitment of the United Nations to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Special
Representative of the Secretary-General Alan Doss said that the purpose of the campaign is to make clear
that SEA is unacceptable. “In a post-conflict situation where people are striving to restore their dignity and
self-pride and in which the Rule of Law and basic social and cultural institutions may still be fragile, SEA
represents a gross violation of the survivor’s human rights,” the SRSG said.
He added, “Zero-tolerance is the norm. We have a duty of care as UN staff to help the people of Liberia and
not contribute to the trauma they have suffered; this is why we must be part of the solution and not a cause
of the problem.”
Mr. Doss, accompanied by Deputy Special Representative Jordan Ryan, outlined a number of measures
implemented by the United Nations to combat SEA. In addition to monthly meetings with senior military,
police and civilian colleagues to address the issue of SEA and to ensure that the message of zero tolerance
goes out very clearly to all UNMIL staff, SRSG Doss said that the UN has implemented mandatory training
and awareness for all UN staff as well as community outreach activities. He stressed the importance of
working with communities to prevent children being abused and women being brought into camps. “There
will be no cover up within UNMIL for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” he stressed.
Welcoming the invitees to the launch, the Minister of Gender and Development, Varbah Gayflor, pointed
out that SEA is a major challenge that is having a very negative impact on Liberians. “We must create the
necessary environment where all members of society, regardless of age or status have the opportunity to
lead a life of dignity and fulfillment,” she said.
Planned under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender and Development, the SEA campaign is a collaborative
campaign between the Liberian government, the United Nations, international and national NGOs and civil
society organizations. A week of activities including sports, musical and cultural events will lead into a year
of awareness raising aimed at sensitizing the Liberian people and international partners on the prevention of
SEA.