A National Colloquium on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention and Response, takes place at the Monrovia City Hall 4-5 November 2019.

The two-day event is being held under the theme “Promoting Coordination to enhance Prosecution of SGBV Crimes, Harmful Practices and promoting access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Liberia”.

The colloquium being led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is an activity under the Spotlight Initiatives, jointly implemented by the Government of Liberia and the United Nations, with funding from the European Union.

The Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Howard Taylor, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony.

It is intended to draw on best practices and lessons learnt on prosecution of SGBV crimes, harmful traditional practices and violations of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights both within Liberia, regionally and globally.

The event will bring together major stakeholders from the 5 pilot counties under the Spotlight Initiative Project in Liberia-Nimba, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape Mount and Montserrado).

It is anticipated that the major outcomes will proffer recommendations to improve coordination, networking, and information sharing amongst the stakeholders, which will contribute to increased access to legal services, and timely adjudication of cases, including punitive measures against perpetrators.

It is also expected that the Colloquium will help strengthen coordination, identify key drivers of support to compliance with domestic and international human rights obligations by national government and other duty bearers with specific focus on the rights of women and girls.

The EU/UN Spotlight Initiative is a multi-national partnership designed to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, as well as increase access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services.

The key role entrusted to UNDP is to strengthen institutions and ensure the delivery of quality and essential services in the prevention and the responses to SGBV and harmful practices at the national, sub-national and community levels.