The NEWS (Monrovia)
4 December 2008
Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has dedicated "Criminal Court E' a specialized court to handle gender-based violence cases at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
Speaking at the program, President Johnson-Sirleaf said that progress is being made with pillar numbers one, two and four of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and that the government now needs to look at pillar three which focuses on governance and the rule of law.
Johnson-Sirleaf: "If there is anything that prevents Liberia from getting the maximum from its partnership from across the world it is because we Liberians are not doing what we ought to do to build the confidence of others in our processes and our procedures of governance and the rule of law."
A release quotes Denmark Ambassador to Liberia, Stig Barlyng as saying that his government support to court is to ensure that the system responds effectively to crimes against women.
Amb. Barlyng stated that rapists would be prosecuted and punished, noting "the time for impunity is over."
Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis who also spoke at the program said gender-based violence is a violation of several provisions of the Domestic Relations Law of Liberia.
He said the work on the court is valued at US$211,801.71. The release said the court is built to protect victims from being seen bodily in the court while testifying.
The victim, the release said, would be seen only though a projector screen.
Criminal Court 'C', according to Atty. Ernestine Morgan-Awar, acting Court Administrator of the Supreme Court, was created under Chapter 25 of the Judiciary Law of 1972 and would handle gender-based violence cases including rape, involuntary and voluntary sodomy, corruption of minors, sexual abuse of wards and sexual assault respectively.
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