Government Strengthens Anti-SGBV Campaign with Launch of the spotlight initiative 2.0
By Lazota Bility
November 26, 2025
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has officially launched the Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0, a renewed national effort aimed at accelerating progress toward ending sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and promoting gender equality across the country.
Launching the second phase of the programme, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection highlighted the successes of Spotlight Initiative 1.0, describing it as “an invaluable contribution to our national fight against SGBV.”
She emphasized that the new phase builds on these achievements by expanding interventions into three additional counties Grand Bassa, Maryland, and Bong bringing the total coverage to eight counties nationwide.
According to the Minister, Spotlight 2.0 will prioritize strengthening protection systems against gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices while enhancing women’s participation in national development processes, including those living in hard-to-reach communities.
She extended heartfelt appreciation to the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) for their longstanding partnership, leadership, and investment in Liberia’s efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls. “I’m truly grateful to our collaborative partners for their continued efforts in helping combat violence against women and girls around the world,” she said, noting that the initiative’s nationwide impact would not have been possible without their support.
The Minister also acknowledged the contributions of local and international partners working alongside the Ministry, calling on Liberians to embrace the campaign with the same energy and dedication displayed during national political campaigns.
“This campaign must reach every corner of Liberia churches, mosques, schools, intellectual centers, football fields, and rural communities with the same intensity we apply during political campaigns,”
she urged. Speaking at the ceremony, the European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Madam Nona Deprez, stressed that globally, 1 in 3 women experience gender-based violence, with digital violence emerging as one of the fastest-growing threats. “Liberia is not an exception. That is why the national theme—Unite to End Violence: Protecting All Women and Children in Our Communities and Digital Spaces is both timely and necessary,” she said. She further noted that what happens online has real-world consequences, underscoring the urgency of addressing digital violence.
“It is in this spirit that the European Union has invested in the second phase of the Liberia Spotlight Initiative 2.0 that we have officially launched today,” the Ambassador added. Meanwhile, the Minister expressed deep gratitude to H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his inclusive leadership and unwavering commitment to the rights and protection of women and girls in Liberia.
The Spotlight Initiative is a global EU–UN partnership launched in 2017 to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Liberia’s national programme, funded at approximately USD 15.8 million, began in 2019 and focused on counties with high SGBV prevalence. Implemented by UN agencies led by UN Women and UNDP in close partnership with the Ministry of Gender, civil society organizations, and state institutions, the initiative delivered significant gains between 2019 and 2023.
The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 marks Liberia’s transition into a renewed phase designed to scale up impact and institutionalize reforms. The Ministry of Gender now plays a central coordinating role, providing technical leadership, strengthening SGBV information systems, guiding steering committees, enhancing community campaigns, and improving survivor-centered service referral pathways.
