Can't get it off my mind....

So I have not had anything consume me like this in seven years! That would be when I stayed up all night researching adoption because God consumed me with adoption...that lasted for three months, then entered Noah! I have that same feeling right now for the suffering children in Liberia! I want to spend all my time researching the efforts going on in Liberia to see if there is anything we can use to fight this war with the government officials and their indifference to the children.

I still haven't really found anything on anyone "fighting" for the children. There are many organizations putting in a school here or sending money there. But to really find someone fighting, I don't see it! In my mind this is an epidemic much like that in Sudan! I know many would think I am exagerating, but am I? A whole people group that represents the majority of the country is being purposely surpressed and it is widely known by the general public! That is what amazed me! I talked to people that had NO IDEA what I was looking into or thinking and they repeated the same thing time and again! People in power that are from Monrovia do not want the people from the interior to prosper!

Ok, I am getting on my soap box again! So let me just let you read for yourself! This is an excerpt from the UNMIL (United Nations Missions in Liberia) report from May - October 2007 (less than one year ago!). The whole report can be found here. So read for yourself and let me know what you think about the governments work to protect and provide the basic human rights to the children of Liberia!


Human Rights Monitoring
Children’s Rights

6. Contrary to Section 18(7) of the Liberian Penal Law prohibiting the exposure of
children under the age of 16 years to obscene material, HROs found young
children watching pornographic films at DVD-clubs in Lofa County. Through a
letter addressed to the Superintendent of the County on 10 October, the Protection
Core Group in the County brought these concerns to his attention for action.
Right to education

7. The right to education and accessibility to free and compulsory primary education
are recognised under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Additionally, universal primary education has been identified by UN Member
States, as one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In keeping with
these undertakings, the government of Liberia has adopted the policy of free
primary education. However, the right can only become a reality and available to
all when government establishes schools and adequately funds and equips them.
Additionally, campaigns to raise the awareness of parents and communities about
the importance of educating their children need to be carried out.

8. The school in Diahn Town, Grand Gedeh County, was reportedly closed down in
March due to the very poor condition of the school building. According to a local
human rights organisation, efforts to rebuild the school failed because community
members preferred to send their children to work on their farms rather than attend
school. In May, during a visit to the public school in Hundonin, Lofa County,
HROs observed that three of the four teachers were seriously inebriated and
students also complained that they were subjected to manual labour on farms. On
27 August, the Principal of Bahn High School, Nimba County in an interview with
Radio Nimba publicly warned his teaching staff against using students to work on
their farms as a form of punishment and in violation of school guidelines.
9. In other Counties there have been high rates of school enrolment as a result of the
free education policy but there has not been a corresponding increment in the
number of well equipped schools or recruitment of qualified teachers. Visits to
Butaw District Junior High School in Sinoe County, Paynesville Community
School in Montserrado County and the only public school in a Garbaryoun Clan,
Neiporlorkollie Town, Fuamah District, Bong County revealed that classes were
overcrowded and there was no furniture in the classrooms. There were not enough
qualified teachers to serve the student population and in the case of the school in
Bong County, it lacked toilets and recreational facilities and there was also no safe
drinking water or electricity. On 29 and 30 October, students from public schools
in Konia, Zorzor district, Lofa County, demonstrated in protest of the absence of
teachers from classes for 2 weeks. The teachers, who were reportedly on strike
because they had not received their salaries for the past 2 months, are said to be
volunteers who were trained by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Violence against children

10. Reports of physical violence directed against children by family members were
recorded in several counties. This frequently took place in the context of
disciplining the child. In October, a 17 year old girl found at West Point police
station, Montserrado County had her hands tied by her father as a disciplinary
measure. In another case, a 10 year old boy found at Elwa Police Depot stated that
he had left home in search of his father because his aunt with whom he lived in
Bushrod Island constantly beat him. Similar cases of young children running away
from their homes as a result of ill treatment at the hands of their parents or
relatives were reported in Margibi and Grand Gedeh Counties. On 25 July, the
Maryland County Child Protection Network (CPN) visited the home of a 13 year
old girl who was being abused by her mother. The mother believed that the girl
was a witch in her previous life, accused her of stealing food and money, and
frequently beat her. In mid-July the girl was treated at Cavalla Clinic after her
mother accused her of stealing money and put pepper all over her body.

11. In other cases, such violence involved neglect of families meeting their children’s
physical and emotional needs. In Grand Bassa County, the Gender Officer had to
care for a 14 month old abandoned child whose parents could not agree on
custody arrangements. In May, a man was arrested by the LNP in Montserrado
County while selling his nine-year old son for L$3,000 (USD$502) allegedly to
buy food. The boy was placed into the custody of the Women and Children
Protection Section of the LNP. This was the third such case recorded this year.

12. HRPS is concerned that inadequate social structures and counselling facilities to
support families in distress may contribute to a growing social problem of family
violence. Additionally, most Counties do not have suitable facilities to care for
neglected or abused children. Indeed in several cases, authorities failed to properly
address reports of serious abuse. For instance, an 11-year old boy from Ganta,
Nimba County, was allegedly burnt with acid by his uncle on 24 July. Although,
the LNP County Commander had expressed intention to order the arrest of the
boy’s uncle, the LNP WCPS in Ganta stated that there were no grounds to arrest
the man. [Emphasis is mine! Can you believe this?! Intent to arrest??? No grounds???] In Maryland County, a woman who allegedly pushed her 14 year old
niece into a pot of hot water on 10 September was charged with aggravated assault
and released on bail by the Associate Magistrate on 11 September. The case was
transferred to the Circuit Court.

Human Rights and Orphanages
13. Due to the delay in the closure of the orphanages that failed to meet the Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) Minimum Standards for Operating Child
Welfare Institutions, some unaccredited orphanages continued operating, putting
the children who live there at risk of neglect or exploitation. Two orphanages in
Nimba County, Francis Memorial and Mother Jacob Prayer Band Christian
Foundation were still operating in June even though both of them were not
accredited by the MoHSW. There is inadequate food for the children and living
conditions are very poor and possibly dangerous to the health and long-term
development of the children. Both establishments are run as a profit-making
venture. UNECO (UNIMIL, ECOMOG Children’s Organisation) Children’s
Home and Orphanage in Gardnersville, Montserrado County which is home to 62
children is also not accredited by the MoHSW. According to the owner, an official
from the MoHSW allegedly solicited L$3,000 (US$50) to accredit it. The amount
was paid but accreditation was never granted.
14. The Minimum Standards developed by the MoSHW to regulate all child care and
protection services in orphanages and other child welfare institutions are based on
the guiding principles of the CRC and provide that ‘all child welfare institutions
must be in safe and secure environment, must maintain clean and sanitary
environment, and must promote high hygiene standards for the growth and
development of the children.’ All orphanages in the country are required to
comply with these standards and non-compliance shall result in the immediate
revocation of accreditation and closure of the institution. HRPS monitors however
reported several instances where the minimum standards were not adhered to.
On 10 October and 17 October, HROs visited J. Roland Payne Center of Hope
orphanage and Rainbow Town orphanage in Bong County respectively. The
two orphanages were established 1994 and have both been accredited by the
MoHSW. Rainbow Town orphanage has 82 children which is beyond the
maximum recommended (50 children) by the Minimum Standards. Roland
Payne Center of Hope orphanage lacks electricity and adequate recreational
facilities. However, generally, it was observed that the environment in both
orphanages was clean and that the children are clean and healthy.
House of Hope orphanage in Ganta, Nimba County is an accredited orphanage
but it does not meet the minimum standards recommended by the MoHSW for
operating child welfare institutions. There are over 78 children in the
orphanage which lacks proper living conditions and health standards. HROs
approached the Bangladesh Battalion for support in provision of medical
services to the Orphanage. My Brother’s Keeper Orphanage in Careysburg,
Montserrado County is also accredited by the MOHSW, however it does not
have a health care facility and the conditions under which the children are kept
are unhygienic. There are 43 children (22 girls and 21 boys) in the orphanage,
some of whom have one surviving parent while others are mentally
challenged.

I would love to know your thoughts after reading that! Anyone ready to fight this battle with me?!