The Liberian Government through the Ministry of Gender and Development and the Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI) have ended the first series of anti-rape public forum as part of government's anti-rape campaign.

According to a release, the first series of six public discussions was held under the LMDI outdoor

interactive media and community outreach blended platform, THE DIALOGUE and six urban and rural communities in Bomi, Margibi and Montserrado Counties were covered.

The fora were conducted in Kakata and Wealla in Margibi, Klay and Gbah in Bomi, and Bernard farm and Fiama in Montserrado.

During public discussions, audience in the concerned communities named the compromise of rape cases, drunkenness, Drug addiction unwholesome traditional practices (traditional marriage of underage girls), lack of parental control, use of children as bread winners for families and indecent dressing as reasons for the increase in rape in Liberia.

The communities called on government to enforce the new rape law with vigor so as to deal with rapists. They condemned the increase especially in the reported rape of children, describing it as uncivilized and barbaric.

Some of the communities even suggested capital death punishment for people who rape children.

In frank exchange of views with guest panelists the communities advanced several recommendations ranging from sustained public awareness on the danger posed by rape on the society to the proffering of laws preventing indecent dress code and the harmonization of the

customary law and the Constitution of Liberia with respect to the ages of women involved in early marriage (Traditional practice).

The participants also called on the government to formulate policies that would punish parents and guidance that compromise rape cases.

The participants blamed parents who render their children vulnerable to the crime as a result of using them as bread winners.