The afternoon of 19 March 2000 turns into a nightmare, for McVilla is raped in her friend's house. Her aggressors are Benjamin, a relative of Cassandra's, and his friend Daniel.

The McVilla case is making legal history in Liberia. It is the first time a woman rape victim has brought charges and started legal proceedings against her aggressors. McVilla speaks at press conferences about what was done to her in her friend's house. She names the rapists publicly by name. She displays medical reports.

McVilla is not alone in her fight for justice; she has the support of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL). "When one woman suffers, all women suffer," says Elizabeth J. Boyenneh, the president of AFELL. "Violence against women continues to be widespread in Liberia, and up till now the perpetrators have got away with it. We live in a culture of silence and concealment. Because of the norms and values prevailing in our society the victims are ashamed to take action against their violators."

The McVilla case was still attracting public attention in July when a five-member international ecumenical delegation of women made a solidarity visit to Liberia. AFELL president Boyenneh believes the case is far from over. The Grand Jury, when called to decide whether the McVilla case should go to court, rejected the application. In September AFELL intends to submit the case to the Jury for the second time.

For Boyenneh, the visit of the international ecumenical delegation of women came at just the right time because AFELL is aiming for international support in its fight against rape. A website on the McVilla case is in preparation; only if McVilla is given a fair chance in a court of law will other women and girls who have been raped dare to break their silence.

Sexual violence against women and girls is only one aspect of AFELL's work. Under the slogan "Equal Rights for All", this association of women lawyers, founded as a non-governmental organization in 1994, works to defend Liberian women's and children's rights in general.

Members of the international ecumenical team:

Hélène Yinda, World YWCA, Geneva (team leader)
Karin Achtelstetter, WCC, Geneva
Jessica Babihuga Nkuuhe, ISIS, Uganda
Lillian Chirombe, World YWCA, Zimbabwe
Ashley Seaman, WCC, Presbyterian Church (USA)

This feature was written during the visit of a five-member international ecumenical delegation of women to Liberia, from 26 July to 2 August, and is one of a series on the West African country. The five women went to Liberia to find out about the situation of women and children in the country after the war. Responding to the needs of their respective members, this solidarity visit was planned and organized by representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the World YWCA, the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

Photos from Liberia will be available from 21 August at:
PhotoOikoumene or telephone: (+41.22) 791.62.95