"Silence is Not Justice": Women of Vision Calls Out Liberian Government Over Deputy Sports Minister’s Alleged Sexual Assault

Madam Kolu Sumo

MONROVIA, Sept. 14, 2025 – Women of Vision, a Liberian non-profit organization, has issued a strongly worded statement demanding accountability in the wake of the alleged rape of a 14-year-old minor, reportedly committed by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister for Youth Development J. Bryant McGill.

In the statement, signed by the organization’s head Kolu Sumo, Women of Vision said the case transcends individual misconduct and exposes long-standing governance failures, including weak safeguarding mechanisms, impunity for political elites, and the government’s inability to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

“Liberia continues to record some of the highest SGBV cases in West Africa, with more than 2,700 incidents reported in the first nine months of 2024 alone,” the group said, citing Ministry of Gender statistics. Survivors, it noted, are routinely subjected to intimidation, stigma, and delayed or denied justice.

The group said that despite Liberia’s commitments under the CEDAW Convention, the Maputo Protocol, and UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, government action has been largely rhetorical. It accused President Joseph Boakai’s administration of failing to transform those pledges into meaningful protection or accountability mechanisms.

Women of Vision described the allegations against McGill as especially troubling, given his role overseeing youth development, and criticized the government for allowing him to remain in office. “By keeping an official under investigation in his post, the administration undermines public trust and signals to women and girls that their dignity remains secondary to political expediency,” the statement read.

The group argued the incident reflects systemic failures, including the absence of clear safeguarding frameworks, weak grievance mechanisms, unprotected whistleblowers, and a culture of impunity that discourages survivors from seeking justice.

Calling the government’s silence “deeply troubling,” Women of Vision urged immediate administrative measures, including McGill’s suspension pending the outcome of judicial proceedings. The group said such a step would not presume guilt but would safeguard the integrity of the investigation and help restore confidence.

It further called for protection and support services for the survivor’s family, including physical security, psychosocial care, and protections from intimidation. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” the group said, urging the Ministry of Justice to ensure the case is referred to court without political interference.

“The handling of this case is a test of whether the rule of law applies equally to all Liberians,” Sumo said. “The government must prove its commitment to ending impunity, protecting survivors, and rebuilding women’s trust in our justice system.”

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