The Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Madam Esther D.S. Yango, is sounding the alarm after multiple threats to her life and a recent break-in attempt at her home in the FDA Community on the outskirts of Paynesville.
Yango, a prominent women’s rights advocate, has been at the forefront of advancing the rights of women, girls, and the LGBTQI community in Liberia, but her advocacy has drawn strong opposition and put her safety at risk.
In an exclusive interview with Verity News on Thursday, December 5, 2024, Madam Yango recounted the frightening incident on November 27, 2024. She explained that upon returning home from work, she discovered her front door had been tampered with, and a broken key was lodged in the lock, preventing her from entering. Fearing for her safety, she and her children sought refuge elsewhere.
Madam Yango immediately reported the break-in attempt at the Mount Barclay Police Station, where officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) accompanied her in assessing the property. Upon returning home, they encountered a group of young men loitering near her House.
When the group noticed the police presence, they fled into the darkness, leaving behind an abandoned motorbike. Despite the police’s prompt response, the incident left Madam Yango shaken, and the lack of security at her home only added to her fears.
“My house is not fenced,” Yango explained, highlighting the vulnerability of her living situation. “Community boys have already stolen most of the blocks I had bought to build a fence. Now, I’m left with just a few pieces in the yard.” The lack of physical security, coupled with the break-in attempt, has intensified her concern for her safety and that of her children.
This recent break-in is not the first time Madam Yango has faced criminal activity on her property. As a leading advocate for women’s rights and social justice, particularly her vocal opposition to harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), she has received frequent threats from those resistant to change in Liberia. “I’ve been receiving constant threats, particularly from unknown callers,” she said. Although threats have been a recurring issue for her, the heightened frequency and intensity of the recent ones have caused her grave concern.
Despite these challenges, Madam Yango remains resolute in her mission to fight for human rights and justice in Liberia. “These threats don’t just affect me. They put my children’s safety and wellbeing at risk,” she said, expressing the profound anxiety she feels as a mother. The theft of construction materials meant to build a fence around her home only underscores the precariousness of her situation.
The break-in and the threats against her highlight the urgent need for concrete protection and support for human rights defenders like Yango. She has called on the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Col. Gregory O.W. Coleman, to ensure her immediate protection, emphasizing that she currently lives in constant fear. “I hear footsteps every night in my yard,” Yango said, expressing her distress.
Yango is urging a thorough investigation into the break-in attempt and the threats made against her, as well as the prosecution of those responsible. She believes that a swift and decisive response from law enforcement is essential to ensuring the safety of human rights advocates in Liberia.
Despite these grave challenges, Madam Yango remains unwavering in her commitment to justice and human rights. Her courage inspires others to fight for social change in Liberia and beyond, underscoring the critical need for greater solidarity and action to protect those who risk their lives for the rights of others.
She hopes the police will act quickly to investigate the matter, bring the perpetrators to justice, and restore safety to her and her family.
