The renewal of the UN Security Council mandate to maintain a peacekeeping force in Liberia comes at a crucial time, if women in the country are to be protected from violence, according to a new report by ActionAid. Currently, rape is the most reported serious crime in the country.

The international charity reports that the UN mission can help make changes that will have a long-term impact on tackling violence against women and rape. In particular, says ActionAid, the UN can assist in the reform of Liberia's police and judicial system, while also supporting local women's organizations. An increase in the number of UN police, the report further notes, would help to promote the rule of law and tackle rape.

"We welcome the contingent of UN women police from India who arrived in January," said Ernest Gaie, ActionAid's Country Director in Liberia. "They are providing a much needed role model. However, the Liberian police desperately need further training, mentoring and monitoring to effectively tackle violence against women."

In 2005, a study of over 1,600 women found that 90.8% had been subjected to sexual abuse and violence.* The same year, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state, was elected on a mandate that highlighted the protection of women.

"The UN Mission in Liberia can play a key role in supporting the government's gender ministry with its work on the new rape law, the reporting of rape and prosecution of perpetrators," added Gaie.

* Report by WHO (2005) quoted in the national Position Paper on Gender-based Violence in Liberia, Ministry of Gender and Development

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Notes to Editors:

ActionAid's report, UNMIL International Engagement in Addressing Violence Against Women is available to download from www.actionaid.org

For More Information: Sandy Krawitz, Communications Director, ActionAid USA +1 202-492-7207

ActionAid International works with more than 13 million individuals across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean through some 2,000 civil society partners. For more information, visit www.actionaid.org