Produced and Directed by Jessica Vale and Nika Offenbac
Liberia was ravaged by 14 years of civil war that finally ended in 2003 that left the country and its population in shambles. Most of the country has little or no access to electricity, running water, or public sewage. There is an 80% unemployment rate, and a barely functioning police and judicial system riddled with corruption. In a country of 6 million people, only 35 trained doctors remain.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female president on the African continent, and herself a survivor of domestic violence, has made tackling gender violence a priority. In 2005 a new Rape law was passed making the crime punishable by life in prison. A Ministry of Gender was created, and in February 2009 a special court was opened solely to try cases of gender violence.
Despite all of these steps, rape is the second highest crime reported in Liberia. The victims are not only adult women but young girls, children and even infants. A culture of shame, fear and ridicule prevents many women from coming forward. Victims don’t trust the newly formed legal system. There is no DNA testing, minimal medical response, and no psychological support. Many men accused of rape are languishing in overcrowded prisons, with no trial date in sight. Others have simply paid to avoid prison all together.
In 2007, O was found in her village, severely malnourished and unable to control her bodily functions. At the urging of a children's advocate, O’s mother brought her to JFK Hospital in Monrovia. The man accused of the crime was arrested, but mysteriously escaped from Monrovia Central Prison months later.
O was able to receive treatment yet she still needs constant medical attention; so much so that her mother can’t work. This means her mother cant afford to send her to school or even buy her colostomy bags she must wear 24 hours a day until the age of 16,when full reconstructive surgery can take place, if she can get access to it.
On August 19, 2009, we will be traveling to Liberia to follow up with Oe and to document this complex issue of sexual violence against children. Our intention is to speak with victims, their families, the accused, NGO’s, average Liberians, community groups and even President Sirleaf herself, to create an accurate portrait of the community and governmental response to this crime.
We will also be examining the root causes of violence against women in Liberia, including gender inequality, the psychological toll decades of war can have, and witchcraft.
While the focus of this project is on Liberia, violence against women is a global epidemic throughout the world.
In shedding a spotlight on this one country we hope the lens will focus on this issue at home and throughout the rest of the world.
To support the project donate here.
This documentary is completely self-funded and being made possible by generous donations from the professional film and media community in New York. Your donations will go to support our production costs on the ground in LIberia.
All proceeds and profits will be donated to educational resources in Liberia.
Contact us here.
Nika@liberiaschild.com
Jess@liberiaschild.com