By Domingo Dargbeh
Alexander Kollie, former presidential candidate, has called on authorities to demand accountability, and reform the justice system.
Kollie spoke in a passionate address delivered over the weekend.
He is also the political Leader of the Reformer National Congress (RNC), has rallied Liberians to confront the pervasive issue of gender-based violence, which he described as a “harsh reality” affecting women and girls.
In spoke at program that marked Kollie’s return to the country.
Now that he has returned home, he aims to raise awareness, and foster dialogues around some of the societal critical issues.
Kollie said, societal and traditional norms often force issues to remain “hidden behind closed doors, thereby making it difficult for victims to seek help or for communities to address the root causes of violence.
Kollie said, while discussions tend to focus on violence against women and girls, it is crucial to acknowledge that men and boys also suffer in silence, often feeling unable to speak out due to fear and stigma.
“The painful truth is that many of us learn fear before we learn confidence.”
He referenced the societal pressures that inhibit open discussions about violence and abuse.
He called for collective action, encouraged community leaders to educate themselves on existing laws and policies designed to protect citizens, including the convention on the rights of the child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.