By Rachel Saykamein,
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has condemned the alleged mistreatment of a woman and the exposure of a young girl during an operation reportedly carried out by officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), following the circulation of a video on social media.
In a statement, WONGOSOL said it is still working to verify where and under what circumstances the incident occurred but described the images in the video as disturbing.
According to the organization, the footage appears to show LDEA officers entering a residence where a woman was completely undressed and continuing to record her instead of allowing her to cover herself. The group also said a young girl was present during the operation.
WONGOSOL said it was especially concerned by comments allegedly made by some of the officers while the woman was being filmed. According to the statement, one officer was heard saying, “You’re naked; I’ll record you.”
The organization said such conduct, if confirmed, falls short of the standards expected of law enforcement officers.
“WONGOSOL unequivocally condemns any action by officers that strips women and girls of their dignity under the guise of enforcing the law,” the statement said.
While acknowledging the government’s campaign against illicit drugs and the work of the LDEA, WONGOSOL said efforts to enforce the law must respect the rights and dignity of every individual.
The organization noted that Liberia’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law and due process for all citizens, including those suspected of committing crimes. It also referenced international human rights instruments that prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
WONGOSOL said the presence of a child during the incident raises additional concerns, stressing that children should not be exposed to traumatic law enforcement operations.
The organization called on the LDEA Director General and the Ministry of Justice to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the incident and to hold anyone found responsible accountable under the law.
It also urged law enforcement agencies to strengthen training on constitutional rights, gender-sensitive policing, child protection and the appropriate use of force, while adopting clear guidelines against recording or sharing images that degrade people during security operations.
WONGOSOL said it will continue to advocate for the protection of the rights and dignity of women and girls and called for accountability wherever abuses occur.
