The Liberian Minister for Gender and Development, Vabah Gayflor, visited a safe house for abused women in The Netherlands earlier this week. She wanted to learn how Dutch authorities deal with domestic violence. In Africa, Liberia is ahead in the fight against domestic violence. However, after many years of civil war, the issue continues to be a problem.
 

Bare white walls, linoleum on the floor, a bed, a cot, a table with a lamp and a digital clock - women who have no alternative but to flee their home end up in a room like this one. Most of the women only stay in a shelter for a couple of days.

For the Liberian Minister who visited the Amsterdam shelter the rooms exude peace: "Perhaps these women do not sleep with their children in the same room at home. But on the other hand, their husbands are not there and the proximity of their children can be calming."

Shelter
Liberia also has shelters for women who get frequently beaten by their partners, said Vabah Gayflor. But they are less well equipped and the staff is less professional compared to those in the Netherlands. The principle is the same: women enjoy special protection, they recover from their difficulties and get support in finding a solution to their problems.

The Liberian Minister for Gender and Development was in the Netherlands at the invitation of the Dutch development aid agency Cordaid. Liberia is leading in Africa in terms of the fight against violence against women and their socio-economic exclusion.

Shelters for women in the Netherlands have existed for 60 years now. In Liberia, on the other hand, talking openly about domestic violence has been acceptable for six to seven years now. As a consequence - progress starts at the bottom. One must first recognise that violence against women is a serious problem and then find a solution.

"Previously women were ashamed to speak about being raped", said Vabah Gayflor. "Thanks to campaigns many women confessed what happened to them. And the number of women speaking out is still growing."

Civil war
Liberia experienced a bloody civil war for 14 years which ended in 2003. During the war, violence against women bacame an epidemic. Violence against women is less but has not disappeared.

The level of violence remains high. Many teenagers continue to be violated, as in any country emerging from war. The perpetrators tend to be former soldiers and rebels and some of them now occupy important positions.

The big difference between Liberia and the Netherlands represents the type of violence against women. In the Netherlands, it is mostly domestic violence, while in Liberia the sexual violence against women is a major problem. Especially on the street and at work. Furthermore rape is the crime most frequently reported in Monrovia, the counrty's capital.

But Liberia is also the first African country to be headed by a democratically elected woman. The Liberian Minister for Gender and Development is clearly proud that during the presidential election the votes of women made the difference.

"No pity, but more autonomy. The title of a brochure of the Dutch aid organization for women shows a change of policy in the Netherlands: women should especially be better able to defend themselves against domestic violence in their own environment. But the title of this booklet could very well have been used by the Liberian Minister: "This reassures me that here too, despite their problems, women have the opportunity to make a choice."