The President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia Atty. Philomena Tugbe Williams has alarmed over the increase of domestic violence across the Country.
Speaking during the opening of a day long workshop for Prosecutors and city Solicitors, Atty. Williams said it is time to bring relieve to such act.
She stressed that the total involvement of city Solicitors and prosecutors in said exercise is key.
“Your presence here today demonstrate your interest in strengthening the rule of law, she told the participants.
According to her, the application and enforcement of the domestic violence act is missing as such it is time for robust and proactive approach in order to change the dynamics in the supreme interest of their beneficieries.
Over the period, she stated that they have trained judges and law enforcement officers and now is it time to provide training to those who directly interact with their beneficieries adding that it is pivotal to the fight against Domestic violence.
Perpetrators she explained think that Domestic violence is a norm as the cases she indicated are increasing daily.
“You play a cardinal part in the justice justice system and gone are the days when women will be abused and marginalized and we trust that you will not sit there to allow such to continue “, she re-emphasized.
Speaking about the importance of the training, she stated that it is meant to further shapen the skills of Prosecutors and City Solicitors in identifying the various human right abuses and violence regularly meted against women including: Physical, psychological and economic abuse respectively.
” We encourage you to also use the Domestic violence act in order to exercise your professional duties properly and appropriately “, she noted.
The AFELL President at the same time urged the direct legal actors to continue to work with them in identifying these cases and finding a solution to remedy such because, Domestice violence is serious and their beneficieries, need relieve.
Also speaking at the program was the Board Chair of AFELL, Cllr. Rosemarie B. James who underscored the importance of AFELL’s work and activities over the period especially for women.
She named advocacy, the protection of women rights and empowerment as key they have been championing since the year of its establishment.
Cllr. James also hopes for a review of the Domestic violence act in a drive to make it advantageous to women who are the direct victims of Domestic violence.
This she is certain when done could help reduce the increasing wave of Domestic violence cases across the Country.
At the same, the first Vice President of AFELL, Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor informed the gathering that the initiative is in continuation of series or activities rolled out by AFELL over the period.
The training which is part of activities in observance of the sixteen days of activism is also a holistic process in the fight against Sexual Gender Based Violence , Cllr. Kelly, reechoed.
The meaningful and intensive training saw three renewed lawyers who presented on the following topics to include: Cllr. Frances Johnson Allison, Legal Advisor to AFELL who spoke on the topic , overview of domestice violence act, its application in bringing perpetrators to justice , Cllr. Felicia Coleman, Co. Chair , Board of Directors of AFELL sho also spoke on the role of the Court in alleviating domestic violence in Liberia and Cllr. Isaac George, Head, SGBV Unit, Ministry of Justice who presented on the Domestic violence act application in court on GBV cases and its effect on the victims and survivors.
Sponsored by the Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY) The intensive day long training on the Domestic violence act and the referral pathway as a response to erraidicating Domestice violence in Liberia brought together Prosecutors and City Solicitors from urban and rural parts of Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Grand Cape, Rivergee, and Gbarpolu Counties among others.
AFELL is also working in collaboration with other partners to implement the program to include; Liberia Association of Psychosocial Services who are directly providing psychosocial support to victims and survivals of Domestice violence while the Community Health care initiative also caters to the health care support for the victims and survival respectively as the DIGNITY, the prime sponsor, handles the operations of AFELL respectively.
Meanwhile, At the climax of the training, Atty. Emmanuel Hilton speaking on behalf of the participants thanked AFELL for the training and committed to applying the DV Act by utilizing the survivor-centric approach in responding to Domestic violence in Liberia.
He highlighted the need for more trainings especially combined with the Magistrates to address the many issues that continue to impede the process of implementing the DV Act.
