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Liberia: Veep Boakai Against Sexual Exploitation
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
16 October 2007
Posted to the web 17 October 2007
Monrovia
Vice President, Joseph Boakai says the government is undeterred in its determination to punish would-be perpetrators of violence against women.
Speaking yesterday when he delivered the keynote address at the official launching of the Lofa County Reproductive Health Survey held in the auditorium of the University of Liberia, Vice President Boakai, said despite efforts being made by UNFPA and other NGOs in giving priority to post war reproductive health recovery, there are some in society who are becoming increasingly active in the areas of sexual abuse, exploitation of the youths and gender based violence.
He said sexual exploitation is sheer criminality bent on cruelty, stressing that it is unfortunate that some people in the society were engaged in these cruelty against women.
Vice President Boakai, said while it may be true that policies relating to women and their needs are still evolving, there is a need to continue encouraging the active participation and involvement of more and more women in the advocacy of their rights, especially those in the rural areas.
"They must speak out and assist us in reflecting their ideas, perspective and recommendations, and advice us on how best we can address their needs. This is why this survey report is so much important because it gives us a clear picture of the health needs of the people of Lofa County," he stated.
The Interim Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development, Lucretia Taylor, said the results of the survey are important and that there is a need to learn more about fertility and health seeking behaviors at all local level.
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The USAID Interim Chief added that from the survey, lot could be learnt about how to reduce the danger of pregnancy and childbirth.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Liberian government, NGOs and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carried out the population based reproductive health survey in Lofa between January and February this year. The survey dwelled on the current situation of women and their experiences during the last few years of war.
The survey measured among 907 women of reproductive ages (15-49), and advanced key recommendations, which need to be addressed to deal with issues relating to women health in the county.
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