Liberia: New Study Spotlight Sexual Violence

Shavon Pulley, Feb. 14, 8:30 Gender Issues
In Liberia and countries near by, violence against women and girls is a major problem. Many studies has shown that potentially this has far-reaching consequences on education, health and development in Liberia. The Liberia study used the "neighborhood method" of inquiry, which asks respondents not only about their own experiences, but also those faced by their four closest neighbors. In this study they found three types of physical violence: non-sexual domestic abuse, marital rape and rape outside of marriage. Domestic violence affected about 55 percent of women in Liberia and a near by country. This violence included non-sexual acts of physical violence perpetrated by family or other household members. Among women who declared themselves married or separated, more than 72 percent in both counties reported that their husbands had forced them to have sex without their consent.
Gender-based violence typically soars during and after conflict. At least 50,000 internally displaced women in Sierra Leone were sexually abused. During the Liberian conflict, girls and women were subjected to multiple forms of sexual violence, including gang rape, sexual slavery, 'survival' sex in exchange for food, and unwanted pregnancies due to rape. These type of situations leave women with little or no hope. Liberia is among fewer than 20 African countries that have adopted laws against rape, doing so in January 2006. The laws set up against rape and abuse is a positive step towards womens violence. But until policymakers and governments start to see what a huge impact this has on women's health, on education, on every aspect of women's and girls' lives it's going to continue.
Many people don't understand how this act of crime damages these females health, education, and even self-esteem. With the many rapes and unwanted sexual activities, many women contract a STD's which many are AIDS. Contracting the HIV virus is another main issue in Africa with all the different types of sexual abuse, sex for survival, or being raped. The lack of education damages the knowledge of these women. Without any educational knowledge, they feel as if they don't matter to society. They lower their standards to shy away and not be seen by the outside world. Bringing attention to themselves will be an embarrassment to the family, so many immune themselves with the mistreatment and learn how to adapt.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712051066.html