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 AFROL
Gender Profiles:
Liberia
The entire Liberian society, male and female, has suffered
tremendously under the endless civil war. Civilians have been the
principal victims of war and have been held hostage by the parties.
Civil war, which for periods mainly was different fractions of armed
bandits terrorizing the population, is for its most over, but one of
the worst war criminals, Charles Taylor, presently holds the office
of President in Liberia. Women were, as always in a war situation,
favoured victims to the looting, raping and abducting bandits from
all the parties. Some areas in Liberia remain war zones.
Liberian women under traditional law are not entitled to inherit from their
husbands or retain custody of their children if their husbands die.
Domestic violence against women is extensive.
There are no laws against gender discrimination and Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM).
Each Liberian woman
averagely gives birth to 6,43 children (2000 est.).
Social data
Life expectancy: Total population: 51,02 years
male: 49,6 years
female: 52,49 years (2000 est.)
Alphabetization rate: Total population: 38,3%
male: 53,9%
female: 22,4% (1995 est.)
note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school system
Medical services: N.A.
Sex ratio: at birth: 1,03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0,95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1,01 male(s)/female
total population: 0,98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Religious data: Muslim 10%, traditional African religions
74,72%, Christian 15,28%
Family and tradition
The status of women varies by region, ethnic group, and religion. Before the outbreak of the civil war, women held one-fourth of the professional and technical jobs in Monrovia. On the whole, women have not recovered from the setbacks caused by the civil war, when most schools were closed, and they could not carry out their traditional roles in the production, allocation, and sale of food.
Women married under civil law can inherit land and property. However, women married under traditional law are considered the properties of their husbands and are not entitled to inherit from their husbands or retain custody of their children if their husbands die. In July 600 women from a coalition of women's organizations marched on Capitol Hill in Monrovia in support of legislation that would provide women in traditional marriages with inheritance rights. There continued to be few programs to help former combatants reintegrate into society, and there were none specifically to benefit former female combatants. However, several women's organizations advanced family welfare issues, helped promote political reconciliation, and assisted in rehabilitating both former female combatants and women who were victims of the civil war.
Throughout the year, professional women's groups--including lawyers, market women, and businesswomen--remained vocal about their concerns. Government officials often responded negatively to public criticism. There were credible reports of harassment and possible surveillance of outspoken critics.
Female Genital Mutilation traditionally is performed on young girls by northern, western, and central ethnic groups, particularly in rural areas.
Gender sensitivity in society
The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on ethnic background, race, sex, creed, place of origin, or political opinion, but discrimination exists. There are no laws against gender discrimination, ethnic discrimination, or female genital mutilation.
Health data
Access to potable water: 46%
Medical services: N.A.
Maternal mortality rate: 560/100.000
Infant mortality: 134,63 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): 50% of females by northern, western
and central ethnic groups undergo this
procedure.
Female genital mutilation, which is widely condemned by international public health experts as damaging to both physical and psychological health, traditionally was performed on young girls by northern, western, and central ethnic groups, particularly in rural areas. Prior to the onset of the civil war in 1989, approximately 50 percent of women in rural areas between the ages of 8 and 18 were subjected to FGM. In some instances, female health professionals in the groups participated in the practice to the extent of providing postoperative care.
The war totally disrupted traditional village life. Most of the population fled to neighboring countries or became displaced within the country. Social structures and traditional institutions, such as the secret societies that often performed FGM as an initiation rite, also were undermined by the war. While many experts believe that the incidence of FGM had dropped to as low as 10 percent by the end of the war, traditional societies are reestablishing themselves throughout the country, and the increase in the incidence of FGM continued.
The most extreme form of FGM, infibulation, is not practiced. The Government has taken no action against FGM.
Violence against women
Domestic violence against women is extensive but has not been addressed seriously as a problem by the Government, the courts, or the media. Several NGO's in Monrovia and Buchanan continued programs to treat abused women and girls and increase awareness of their human rights.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
UN, HRW, Mundo negro
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