By Wilfred Duosi
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has announced a major collaboration with several government institutions aimed at protecting Liberian children and removing them from the streets through the “Save the Child Project.”
The initiative was officially launched on Tuesday during a signing ceremony held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Monrovia.
The event brought together key government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labor, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), and the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC).
Speaking at a press conference, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie Harris disclosed that the project is designed to eliminate street selling and begging among children across Liberia.
She emphasized the urgent need to safeguard children whose rights and well-being continue to be undermined by street life.
“The continued presence of children on the streets selling and begging is a serious violation of their rights and demands urgent government intervention,” Minister Harris stated.
According to her, the joint resolution signed by the participating ministries and agencies represents a strong national commitment to addressing child exploitation and abuse nationwide.
The Minister has further emphasized that the government is determined to end harmful practices affecting children, particularly street vending, begging, and other forms of exploitation.
Accordingly, Minister Harris revealed that a survey conducted by the Ministry in 2022 found that 366,585 Liberian children are currently living on the streets—a situation she described as alarming and in need of immediate action.
She further explained that children’s rights continue to be violated through forced labor, domestic trafficking, and other abusive practices.
The Minister however, expressed frustration over individuals who bring children from rural areas under the pretense of sending them to school, only to subject them to street selling and begging.
As part of the project’s implementation, Minister Harris disclosed that the Ministry of Justice, through the Liberia National Police, along with the Monrovia City Corporation and Paynesville City Corporation, will collaborate to provide monitoring and surveillance to ensure the project’s success.
For his part, Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh emphasized the critical role law enforcement will play in protecting Liberian children. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Justice’s commitment and readiness to fully implement the initiative.
“It is time that Liberian children receive the protection they deserve in order to learn, grow, and build the future generation of this country,” Minister Tweh said.
He added that the Save the Child Project aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and Prosperity, noting that protecting children is fundamental to national development.
