Posters and GBV

In Sierra Leone, there is a clear public campaign to counter sexual exploitation and assault of women. This is in the professional and domestic sphere. I saw a number of posters and billboards with women being harassed or in imminent danger of being beaten - I particularly enjoy the use of posters from the Ghanaian Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (my old stomping ground) - reminding us that sexual abuse and exploitation is not acceptable and is punishable. Some are in Krio -possibly much more useful then straight up English for billboards at least - and seem to act as a reminder to men not to prey on women. I did not see any posters in Salone with men being abused by women, unlike in Ghana.



Gender based violence and exploitation is endemic in Sierra Leone, from cultural initiations into secret societies that involve genital cutting to human sacrifices (there's concern of this increasing in the lead up to the elections next year). I'm working with the police, and sexual harassment and exploitation is more than just common place. Fortunately this is an area that is heavily supported programmatically and institutionally (for example the SLP has a new Sexual Harassment Policy and a complaints division), but as of yet it's difficult to tell if this is making a difference. Or whether this is just lip service. I didn't really see many posters IN police stations or headquarters reminding people that sexual exploitation, assault, or domestic violence is wrong (there were large billboards beside or in front of some police stations in Freetown at least). I only conducted a basic search for information on how effective the posters are. Obviously many poster campaigns are coupled with use of other media (radio discussions/adverts, television, comic strips, public protest, training and workshops etc). But I couldn't really find anything - I'm not sure if anyone has any suggestions.



While we're on this topic, there was an interesting article in Foreign Affairs on the reliability of rape reporting numbers during war.

Freetown

I haven't had much sun in Freetown. But when there's been a break from the torrential rain I've managed to snap a few shots.

Liberia's Bike Riders

Motorcycles are everywhere in Monrovia.

During the Liberian civil war combatants and refugees sought refuge in neighbouring Guinea. Inspired by the enterprising young Guineans running their own business, Liberians returned with an idea to fill the transportation gap in their country ravaged by years of war. Former Combatants used the money they received from the DDRR process to purchase inexpensive Chinese motorcycles and lease them to drivers.

The business model exploded.

The work serves as good employment for scores of unemployed young men - an estimated 75% or more are former combatants. It also provides employments for younger members of society, as motorcycles washers. The children use the money to pay excess school fees.

But the model isn’t perfect. This mode of transportation is dangerous. Daily there are several crashes resulting in severe injuries and sometimes death. The bikers do not wear protective gear – neither do their passengers – and outside Monrovia, it’s rare that they have a license. The bike riders have a tenuous relationship with the police and some members of the community who see the bike gangs as unsafe. Altercations with the police have left some police stations up in flames. Police and community members know bike riders can organise quickly and as a result there is unease about the gangs of bike riders.

It’s something the police are going to have to work with. Motorcycle taxis, or “motos” as they are known in some areas are becoming an increasingly common mode of public transportation in West Africa. It is inexpensive, the bikes are easy to maintain, and business is flourishing as a result of limited public transportation options. More importantly, they are fast. They can weave in and out congested traffic on overcrowded streets.

There is work to further professionalize the practice – realising that it provides much needed employment to young men (from what I’ve gathered there aren’t any female bike riders). NGOs, the UN and even the World Bank have worked with the Bike Riders Association – their informal union – to increase licensing, encourage safer practices and facilitate dialogue between the police and the bike riders. These actions have some effect, yet more is likely needed to improve the safety of the community and the riders themselves. Much more needs to be done to build trust between the police and the bike riders.

Dear Artesunate,

I love you. You should be everywhere.

Symbols of the Liberian Electoral Season

Liberia is heading into elections season, starting with a referendum on constitutional reform followed presidential and congressional elections.

The referendum looks to review a few key things, like the amount of time you need to have been in Liberia before you can run for president or vice president (10 years), raising the age of supreme court judges from 70 to 75, moving the election date from the second Tuesday of October to November, and changing the presidential vote from a two round voting system to a first past the post.

To accommodate voters that are semi-literate and illiterate the referendum is using symbols to assist voters.



Now at first I found the symbols confusing. Liberians I spoke to said despite some organisations doing civic education on the symbols – it will not make much of a difference. Political parties are telling people to vote either all yes, or all no. But the impact of the decisions, particularly the question of residency, could have destabilising effects. Candidates have already begun campaigning for the elections. If they do not meet the residency requirements, their investment will be for nought.

Political parties, instead of actively engaging young people and community members in the political system, have produced their power base through reliance on what they can provide to their specific power group. Some NGOs in Liberia, such as International Alert, are concerned that election outcomes could result in post-referendum and/or post-election violence. They are working to counter this through engaging youth leaders (approximately 60% of Liberia’s population is under 30), but the onus in turn is on the youth leaders to engage a wider base of youth so that more understand what the referendum and the elections actually mean.

Back... And In Monrovia

I'm in Monrovia for fieldwork. I love it.

It's chaotic, warm, friendly and... temperate (in comparison to southern Ontario this time of year)!
Despite the incredibly large UN presence and a US Embassy compound that could rival the NEC in Baghdad - It's beautiful.

Happy Birthday to The Republic Of South Sudan!

A big welcome to the world's newest country!