The Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) over the weekend presented over 300 Medical Report Books for documentation of Sexual Gender Violence (SGBV) in Liberia. Health workers at Health facilities and SGBV workers at One Stop Centers will use the record books to track activities of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence reported at their various localities. The Medical Report Books will help in generating evidence that can be used for survivors’ cases in the Court of Law.
The initiative is a component of the project titled: “Strengthening Collaborations and Responding to GBV, Economic Empowerment & Increase Representation of Women in Political Leadership at County and National Levels in Liberia” with support from Kvinna till Kvinna and funded by SIDA
The Objective is to advance collaborations and establish networks that will amplify women’s voices, reduce violence, and sustain the socio-economic empowerment of women in Liberia. This initiative is geared toward strengthening the monitoring and response services of SGBV in coordination with national actors to reduce Gender-Based Violence in Liberia.
WONGOSOL Jointly monitors and supports frontline SGBV actors through existing early warning structures through the Ministry of Justice Sex Crime Unit.
Giving the overview of the activity, Wongosol Program Manager Willet Salue said Medical report books for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) at one-stop centers are crucial for several reasons.
According to her, the books will document detailed evidence of survivors’ psychological and physical conditions, ensure health care is provided for them, it serves as a medium of data collection and analysis, while empowering and validating survivors’ experiences.
“These reports provide detailed documentation of the survivor’s physical and psychological condition, which is essential for legal proceedings. Accurate records can support the survivor’s case in court, helping to bring perpetrators to justice. Continuity of Care: Medical report books ensure that all healthcare providers involved in the survivor’s care have access to consistent and comprehensive information. This continuity is vital for effective treatment and follow-up care”
It adds: “One-stop centers aim to provide comprehensive care, including medical, legal, and psychosocial services. Medical report books help integrate these services, ensuring that survivors receive coordinated and holistic support. These records are valuable for collecting data on the prevalence and nature of SGBV. This information can inform policy-making, improve services, and contribute to prevention efforts. 5. Empowerment and Validation: For survivors, having their experiences documented and taken seriously can be empowering. It validates their experiences and can be a crucial step in their healing process”
Presenting the Books to the Ministry of Justice, Madam FaciaHarris, Board Chair of Wongosol cautioned the Ministry to make adequate use of it. “On behalf of Wongosol, I present these medical report books to you and I hope they be used adequately by the relevant persons”
Receiving the Medical Report Books, Atty Laura Golakeh, Deputy Minister of Gender appreciated Wongosol and their partners for the efforts applied. She noted that the Ministry faces a huge gap in terms of Gender Based Violence, of which they are working tirelessly to omit their gaps. She then called for a collective effort from CSOs and partners to achieve this goal.
“We want to thank Wongosol for the effort applied. The ministry is concerned about this issue There’s a huge gap in what we face, and the ministry cannot do all. We want to have a gender-based violence information management system” she said.
The occasion was graced by participants from one-stop centers, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, etc. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Cynthia Blapooh- SGBV Coordinator at the Ministry also applauded WONGOSOL for the activity.
She however expressed the significant need for Health workers to get proper training to have proper documentation. “We appreciate your kind donation because this is important. We are also working on things, let’s be patient, this is a new government”
Madam Blapooh at the same time cautioned health workers and associates against charges for SGBV cases. According to her, SGBV cases are free of charge and anyone collecting money for such cases violates the law. “In this public manner, I would like to say that SGBV services are free and there should be no cost attached. The Minister of Health is key in that and if we find people in that habit there will be consequences for that”
The Women Non-Governmental Organizations Secretariat OfLiberia (WONGOSOL) is a non-governmental, non-discriminatory and secular women-based organization established as an organ to coordinate the activities of women organizations in Liberia since 1998.
