BudgIT Liberia has organized a one-day youth dialogue to promote gender-based budgeting, engaging over 130 students in discussions on fiscal policies that address gender disparities and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Held at G.W. Gibson High School in partnership with Medica Liberia and Book Before Boys, the event also saw the distribution of sanitary pads to 100 female students. The initiative, which coincided with International Women’s Day, emphasized gender-responsive budgeting as a critical tool for addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for fair resource distribution.
BudgIT Liberia, a civic tech organization focused on fiscal transparency and citizen engagement, led the discussions through its Country Lead, Abraham Varney. He underscored the need for adequate funding to combat SGBV, stressing that Liberia’s efforts remain ineffective without significant budget allocations for One-Stop Centers and safe homes.
Data presented at the event revealed an alarming trend in SGBV cases. While reported cases dropped from 2,708 in 2019 to 1,975 in 2022, the numbers surged again in 2023, reaching 3,204 cases, with Montserrado County alone recording 1,279 incidents. The figures, which include rape, gang rape, and sodomy, disproportionately affect females under 18.
Varney highlighted the urgent need for well-funded One-Stop Centers that provide medical care, legal aid, psychosocial counseling, and shelter for survivors. He urged students to demand accountability in public spending and called for gender-responsive budgeting to address these challenges effectively.
Medica Liberia’s Project Manager, Fenny Louise Taylor Diggs, echoed these concerns, lamenting the limited availability of safe spaces for survivors. She called on the Government to expand investments in support systems, ensuring that every county has at least one fully operational safe home.
Book Before Boys representative Mustapha Z. Sherman emphasized education as a key factor in breaking cycles of abuse and dependency. He encouraged female students to prioritize learning and urged young men to reject harmful gender norms while advocating for gender equity.
The dialogue concluded with a collective demand for policy reforms, including sustained funding for One-Stop Centers, survivor support programs, and the integration of gender-responsive budgeting into national financial policies. BudgIT Liberia, Medica Liberia, and Book Before Boys reaffirmed their commitment to advancing these initiatives.
