Our friend Nika Offenbac and Jessica Vale are in Liberia, Africa producing and directing a documentary project that examines gender based violence in post conflict.

This documentary is completely self-funded and being made possible by generous donations from the professional film and media community in New York. Your donations will go to support our production costs on the ground in Liberia. All proceeds and profits will be donated to educational resources in Liberia.

ABOUT LIBERIA
Liberia was ravaged by 14 years of civil war that finally ended in 2003 that left the country and its population in shambles. Most of the country has little or no access to electricity, running water, or public sewage. There is an 80% unemployment rate, and a barely functioning police and judicial system riddled with corruption. In a country of 6 million people, only 35 trained doctors remain.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female president on the African continent, and herself a survivor of domestic violence, has made tackling gender violence a priority. In 2005 a new Rape law was passed making the crime punishable by life in prison. A Ministry of Gender was created, and in February 2009 a special court was opened solely to try cases of gender violence.

Despite all of these steps, rape is the second highest crime reported in Liberia. The victims are not only adult women but young girls, children and even infants. A culture of shame, fear and ridicule prevents many women from coming forward. Victims don’t trust the newly formed legal system. There is no DNA testing, minimal medical response, and no psychological support. Many men accused of rape are languishing in overcrowded prisons, with no trial date in sight. Others have simply paid to avoid prison all together.