United Nations Radio

It's been said that if sexual violence is not fully addressed in ceasefires and peace processes, there will be no peace for women. At a recent meeting organized by UNIFEM, Leeymah Gbowee of Liberia, Executive Director of the Women, Peace and Security Network, told Gerry Adams about what actions women are taking in post-war Liberia to address the problem of sexual violence and rape:

Gbowee: We have a rape law. That rape law was the work that was done by the association of female lawyers. That rape law was work that was done back several years ago but other women's organizations and groups came together to help them do the advocacy for the passage of that law. And the law makes rape now a (non billable crime) of 12 to life imprisonment. That is the sentence for rape in Liberia now.

Adams: So what women's groups are currently doing, they are going out there and really working, trying to ensure that this law is not just on the books but women have access to it that they know that there is such a law.

Gbowee: In Liberia, we still have this cultural thing of let's settle it the family way, including rape. So activism, different women's groups are out there now saying rape is a non-negotiable thing. I like one of the saying of the female lawyers in one of the booklets they have, most women will say when something really pains them, "I leave mine with God," this whole divine justice attitude. But the female lawyers now have a slogan that says, "Don't leave it with God." Rape is not a leave my own with God thing. Rape is a thing for you to take to the law.

Adams: You mentioned there've been positive things happening for women. But men say as soon as President Sirleaf's term is over, we're going to take back what we've given you. What are men's attitudes towards women's empowerment?

Gboowee: When we were doing activism in the communities, these men were asking can we join and when we said no, - how can we be of assistance.

But since the president has been in office for two years, three years now, we have seen a change in attitude. Especially, there is all this bickering about we have given the women their chance and they are having six years of their chance. So the next time is our time.

So that is where the challenge is for us as women because we really have to stand up. Even if we don't get the presidency a second time we have to ensure that those policies and laws in place will help our girls so as they don't have to fight as we have been fighting. We have to get at least 30 percent of minimum thing in our electoral reform law. We have to get domestic violence law passed. We have to get different laws passed using the opportunity of this presidency to get these things going.

But if we just let it go and don't really fight to get those things we will have to fight another hundred and fifty years and that is the trend.

PRES: Leymah Gbowee of Liberia speaking to UN Radio's Gerry Adams.

duration: 2'35"