Guide lines for operating the management of safe homes for survivor of gender based violence have been
developed and endorsed by the National GBV Task Force under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare.
Proposed amendments to the penal code would provide sections of third degree felony for subjecting a child to
pornography or media exposure or violent nature, as well as distribution of child pornography.
(v) Other forms of abuse and exploitation such as begging, early pregnancy, etc. (Article 29(b))
Article X, section 4 of the Children‟s Law provides as follows: “no person or society shall subject a child to any
of the following practices:a. Marrying and person when she or he is still under the age of 18;
b. Betrothing a child into marriage or a promise for marriage;
c. Giving over a child to work either as a means of satisfying obligations on the part of the parent
regardless of whether or not the work is harmful, hazardous or indecent;
d. Any unnecessary or uncultured practices that may inflict physical, psychosocial, or emotional pain to
the child or otherwise violates or endangers her or his bodily integrity, life, health dignity, education,
welfare or holistic development.
(vi) Sale, trafficking and abduction (Article 29)
Article VII, section 8 of the Children‟s Law provides that, “Any person, convicted under the Trafficking Law or
any penal law prohibiting the abduction or trafficking of children shall be placed on a child offender‟s register
and not allowed to render direct services to children.”
The Ministry of Labor and the Anti-Trafficking Task Force conducted a comprehensive situation analysis of
Human Trafficking in 2010 with support from UNICEF. The report shows that human trafficking is prevalent in
Liberia, both in the country and beyond its borders for different purposes including labour exploitation, organ
removal and trafficking of drugs. The report says that there have been some successes in the implementation of
the National Plan on trafficking, largely due to collaboration with the United Nations, NGOs and community
bases actors both internally and across borders. However, these efforts have been delayed due to logistical
difficulties, the absence of skilled manpower and funding and material shortages.
e) Children victims of harmful social and cultural practices affecting the welfare, dignity, normal growth
and development of the child:
(i) Betrothal of girls and boys (Article 21.2)
Article X, section 4 of the Children‟s Law provides as follows: “no person or society shall subject a child to any
of the following practices:a. Marrying and person when she or he is still under the age of 18;
b. Betrothing a child into marriage or a promise for marriage;
c. Giving over a child to work either as a means of satisfying obligations on the part of the parent
regardless of whether or not the work is harmful, hazardous or indecent;
d. Any unnecessary or uncultured practices that may inflict physical, psychosocial, or emotional pain to
the child or otherwise violates or endangers her or his bodily integrity, life, health dignity, education,
welfare or holistic development.
(ii)Early and forced marriage (Article 21.2)
The Children‟s Law provides that:
19