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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?
6
8
10
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
CONNECT WITH US
www.unmil.unmissions.org
www.facebook.com/unmil2003
www.twitter.com/unmilnews
www.youtube.com/unmiltv
www.flickr.com/unmil
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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UN FOCUS, Vol. 11, No. 03
A publication of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Public Information Ofce
www.unmil.unmissions.org