Engaging Youth to Build a Future Free from Gender-Based Violence: How the Orange Community Festival Brought together Government, Schools, CSOs, and the UN

In a bold act of national unity against gender-based violence, the United Nations in Liberia organized the first Orange Community Festival, bringing together students from 10 high schools, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, and staff of the One UN in Liberia in one place, at the Invincible Park in Monrovia, as part of the 16 Days of Activism 2024 observance. 

The festival was to raise awareness on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls within the surrounding communities, challenge the status quo, engage young people, and advocate for unity against all forms of gender-based violence (GBV), a scourge which Liberia’s Gender Minister, Hon. Gbeme-Horace Kollie, said requires “doubling of our efforts to eradicate GBV from every corner of Liberia”.

Participants at the festival included Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon. Gbeme-Horace Kollie, Representative of the Minister of Justice, the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Christine Umutoni, and UN Women Country Representative Ms. Comfort Lamptey, representatives of other UN Agencies as well as gender equality and gender-based violence prevention activists from civil society organizations, school leaders and their students. Powerful messages and songs, emphasizing the importance of collective action in combating gender-based violence formed part of the occasion.

Thanking the UN family for their unwavering stance in fighting GBV, the Gender Minister highlighted the critical role concerted efforts can exert in ending gender-based violence. “Today’s Orange Community Festival serves as a powerful reminder of what collective action can achieve. It is a call for unity, a call to galvanize our individual and institutional efforts to ensure that every woman and girl in Liberia lives with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to fulfill her potential,” she said.

Minister Kollie further pointed out how both this year’s 16 Days’ Global theme, “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls”, and Liberia’s national theme, “From Talk to Action! Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” underscore the urgency of transforming advocacy into concrete action. It highlights the necessity of transitioning from mere discussions to impactful measures that address the root causes of gender-based violence. 

For her part, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Umutoni, who read the UN Secretary-General’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence message, underlined the gravity of GBV globally: “The epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity. Everyday on average 140 women and girls are killed by someone in their own families, and the situation is getting worse.” Earlier, she reminded the youth of Liberia of the critical role they can play in combating GBV, stressing that “Young people are our only hope for ending GBV in Liberia and the world.”

Nearly 150 students from 10 private and government-owned high schools attended the Festival, thus opening a window of opportunity for the exploration of possible youth enlistment against GBV. Abdullah J. Barry, grade 10, United Dawah Ummah High School, said he got the message to deter GBV. “They told us to work to stop violence against women and girls. Next thing is for me to do just that in my school and community to spread the message”. 

“The Orange Festival at the Invincible Park was a great gathering. It was all about ending violence. I will no longer be afraid to talk to people doing violence acts to girls to stop. If I fail, I will ask other people to help,” said Mayanly M. Karama, grade 12, Fofana High School.

"This festival is a testament to our commitment, but our work does not end here. We must continue to advocate, educate, and support survivors of gender-based violence," said UN Women Liberia Country Representative, Ms. Comfort Lamptey.

The festival witnessed various activities, including quizzing and educational engagement of students, songs, cultural performances, interactive discussions, distribution of leaflets as well as speeches and pep talks. 

The participation of the 10 schools added a youthful energy to national efforts against gender-based violence, with students actively involved by not only answering questions but also engaging in discussions and seeking clarity on things they did not understand.

Thanks to initiatives like the Orange Community Festival, UN Women and partners are able to engage schools in exploring viable avenues for fighting GBV, like the establishment of GBV clubs, with the goal of encouraging student involvement at an early stage. Such early intervention is a key step in preventing gender-based violence and creating a safer, more equitable future for all.