By By: The People News Online
Young people in Buchanan turned the 16 Days of Activism into a forceful community movement on December 4, as more than 75 students from Grand Bassa County took to the streets demanding justice, accountability, and stronger protections for women and girls.
The march—organized by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development in collaboration with Children Rescue Africa and several civil society groups—became a defining moment for many of the participating high school students, some of whom were rallying publicly for the first time.
For lead campaigner Mercy Abena Johnny, the demonstration carried a sense of urgency. She said the march aimed to spotlight the persistent violence women and girls face both at home and across digital platforms. “Enough is enough,” she declared, urging Liberia to take bold action to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
The students amplified that call through a formal petition, read by Ellen M. Bah of the Drims School System. The document appeals to national authorities to ensure swift prosecution of abusers and to speed up passage of the long-delayed Cybercrimes Bill.
Grand Bassa Superintendent Hon. Karyou Johnson, who received the petition on behalf of local authorities, assured the young campaigners that he would forward their concerns to the Minister of Internal Affairs. He praised the organisers for empowering students to speak out and for elevating the fight against gender-based violence.
As the event wrapped up, Naymote Program Director Thor Peace Mahteh Boyee reminded the crowd that activism must continue beyond the campaign period. He called on students, families, and community leaders to keep advocating for safe homes, safer schools, and protected online spaces.
Naymote Partners reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening communities and lifting youth voices, pledging ongoing support for efforts that advance dignity, protection, and justice for women and girls across Liberia.
