In Arizona, an eight-year-old girl -- an immigrant from Liberia -- was allegedly raped by four Liberian boys two weeks ago. It caused outrage in the U.S. and far beyond. Tania Bernath of Amnesty International discusses efforts to combat rape and sexual violence in Liberia and other post-conflict countries.
Settled by freed American slaves, the small West African country of Liberia has long and deep ties to the U.S. The country is even referred to as "America's stepchild."
In 2003, ravenous reconstruction efforts began after 14 years of civil war hollowed the country. Liberia ousted its dictator Charles Taylor and elected Africa's first female president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who has steered Liberia on its long road to recovery. Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer, shooter and editor Megan Thompson traveled to Liberia in the spring of 2009 to report on the country's progress and challenges.
They found women on the front lines of almost every part of society. From government ranks to police forces and market stands, the women's movement is leading the charge in rebuilding a country, rallying campaigns against rampant sexual violence and reintegrating former child soldiers back into communities. Today, Liberia is healing and trying to reclaim and shape its identity.
"Liberia's Long Road Back" is a collection of signature videos, extended interviews, web original videos, an online radio show on female empowerment across Africa, reporter observations from the field and blogger perspectives.
Liberia's Long Road Back
Web Interview (video)
July 30, 2009
Years after war, rape still endemic in Liberia
Perspectives
July 1, 2009
Liberians get by selling coconuts, saving dollar by dollar
Unemployment rates in the U.S. and Canada are approaching double digits, but these figures pale to those in Liberia, where the official unemployment rate stands at 85 percent. A Worldfocus contributing blogger in Monrovia describes how Liberians get by, even if they are not formally employed.
Web Original Video
April 17, 2009
Former Liberian rape victim and child soldier speaks out
When Jackie Redd was 14, she was forced to join the NPFL (National Patriotic Front of Liberia), a rebel group. She was raped and forced to be the "wife" of three men for 11 years, until she escaped in 2001. Jackie is now speaking out.
Signature Video
April 16, 2009
Former child soldiers, sex slaves recover from Liberia’s war
Some of the biggest victims of Liberia's 14-year civil war were young women who were taken prisoner and forced to fight, or made into sex slaves. Many of them are now struggling to recover and struggling to forget.
Signature Video
April 15, 2009
Liberian women occupy front lines of war on sexual violence
Liberia's recovery after years of civil war has been led by women, who for years were among the biggest victims of the rampant violence in that country. Women are now on the front lines of what's become a war on sexual violence.
Sights & Sounds (video)
April 15, 2009
Liberians scrub tombstones and dance to celebrate the dead
Liberia's Decoration Day is a national holiday that mourns the losses or celebrates the lives of lost loved ones. Liberians bring parties to cemeteries to clean and decorate gravestones, eat and dance.
Worldfocus Radio
April 14, 2009
Tune in: Online radio show on African women in power
Worldfocus.org's weekly radio show explored the political, economic and social implications of the rise of women power players in Africa. Listen now. Micheline Ravololonarisoa, Lynn Sherr and Aili Mari Tripp joined the conversation.
Signature Video
April 14, 2009
Women’s movement transforms post-war Liberia
For a 14-year period ending in 2003, Liberia struggled with a brutal civil war, a crippled economy and not much hope. That was until a women's movement started to take hold -- a movement that helped to drive a dictator from power and gave women the kind of opportunities they could never have dreamed of.
Signature Video
April 13, 2009
Liberia, “America’s stepchild,” searches for own identity
Liberia, a small country in West Africa, has long and deep ties to America. The country, which became infamous in recent years for a bloody civil war, was settled by freed American slaves. Now, Liberia is trying to shape an identity it can call its own.
Extended Interview
April 13, 2009
An impatient Liberia confronts high expectations, sacrifice
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to Liberia, discusses the positive example set by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and some of the challenges faced by a country rebuilding since the aftermath of its second civil war.
