The initiative outlines key recommendations to support survivors of domestic violence and enhance their integration into education and healthcare systems.
Monrovia – The Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) has launched its annual Domestic Violence Scorecard, aimed at improving access to justice and promoting equitable participation through advocacy and monitoring the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act of 2019.
The initiative outlines key recommendations to support survivors of domestic violence and enhance their integration into education and healthcare systems.
Simplifying the Law for Accessibility
Launching the scorecard, Cllr. Tonieh Talery Wiles, a former commissioner on law and treaty matters at the Independent National Human Rights Commission, recommended simplifying the Domestic Violence Act into basic Liberian English.
“This will ensure the law is user-friendly, even for children, enabling them to understand and report cases of domestic violence,” Cllr. Wiles explained.
She emphasized the timeliness of the initiative, noting that it coincides with Liberia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights obligations. According to her, this provides an opportunity to address these issues in alignment with international human rights instruments.
“This scorecard should not be seen as a way to name and shame government institutions but as a reminder of their obligations, linked to international human rights commitments,” she added.
Cllr. Wiles also recommended that the Ministry of Education involve Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in implementing the law, highlighting that many instances of domestic violence stem from such community settings.
Legal Penalties and Gaps in Implementation
The Domestic Violence Act classifies domestic violence as a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment and potential compensation to victims.
Despite the law’s enactment, ORWOCH observed limited data on its effectiveness. The scorecard aims to provide an evidence-based evaluation of progress by the four key ministries responsible for its implementation: Gender, Health, Justice, and Education.
Addressing Gaps and Challenges
The assessment identifies gaps and challenges in the law’s operationalization and suggests policy adjustments and capacity-building efforts. It aligns with international commitments under CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen the law’s implementation.
Dr. Tennen B. Dalieh Tehounge, a Ph.D. researcher at Dublin City University, revealed that while the Ministry of Health performs moderately, the ministries of Gender, Justice, and Education scored low in their roles.
“This weak performance undermines revenue generation and reduces funding that should support the domestic violence fund,” Dr. Tehounge noted.
Key Recommendations
ORWOCH emphasized the need for scaling up psychosocial services for survivors through primary healthcare integration, developing a real-time reporting system linking healthcare providers with law enforcement, incorporating domestic violence training into teacher education curricula to improve support for affected students.
These measures are expected to enhance access to psychosocial services, foster quicker responses to incidents, and raise awareness among educators about domestic violence.
Enhancing Resource Allocation
Fenny Taylor Diggs, Project Manager at Medica Liberia, called for consolidating the “Survivor Support Fund” and the “Domestic Violence Fund.” She stressed the importance of realistic resource allocation.
“It starts with budget allocation. Without it, implementation is impossible,” Diggs said, commending ORWOCH for its work.
The Path Forward
ORWOCH reaffirmed that the Domestic Violence Act of 2019 remains a critical legal instrument for protecting women and girls against abuse. While progress has been made, the organization called for intensified efforts to address remaining gaps and ensure the law’s full implementation.
This initiative represents a proactive step toward creating a safer environment for women and children, ensuring their access to recovery resources and empowerment opportunities.
