Published: October 14, 2026
MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia has launched its first Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS), a digital platform designed to strengthen the collection, management and analysis of sexual and gender-based violence data, as authorities seek to address longstanding weaknesses in reporting, coordination and survivor protection.
By Edwin Dolo
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other international partners, spearheaded the initiative and officially launched it at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
The system is expected to provide government institutions, service providers and development partners with more reliable information to track patterns of violence, identify gaps in survivor assistance and strengthen evidence-based responses to sexual and gender-based violence across Liberia.
Speaking at the launch, Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie described the initiative as a significant step toward addressing persistent challenges that have undermined the country’s ability to effectively document and respond to cases of gender-based violence.
“For too long, gaps in data collection, reporting, harmonization and analysis have limited our ability to develop a complete and coordinated picture of gender-based violence in Liberia,” Horace-Kollie said.
She explained that fragmented information systems, inconsistent reporting practices and limited technical capacity have made it difficult for institutions to obtain comprehensive and reliable information needed to develop effective prevention and response strategies.
According to the minister, the newly introduced platform will establish a more secure, standardized and centralized approach to collecting, managing and analyzing service-based information on gender-based violence.
She said the system would enable policymakers, service providers and development partners to identify emerging patterns of violence, assess survivors’ needs, improve intervention programs and allocate resources based on credible evidence.
The platform is also expected to improve the monitoring of cases within relevant justice and service-response processes, including case status and pretrial detention information where such records are appropriately maintained and authorized.
However, Horace-Kollie emphasized that the system’s effectiveness would depend not only on technological improvements but also on the responsible handling of sensitive information.
She warned that inadequate safeguards could expose survivors to stigma, retaliation and further abuse, stressing that confidentiality, informed consent, personal data protection and survivor safety must remain central to the platform’s implementation.
The minister called for stronger collaboration among the Ministry of Gender, justice and security institutions, healthcare providers, social service organizations, civil society groups and international development partners.
She maintained that improved data collection must translate into practical interventions, including stronger referral mechanisms, expanded survivor support services and increased attention to underserved communities.
Horace-Kollie specifically highlighted the challenges confronting women and girls with disabilities and survivors living in rural and hard-to-reach communities, where access to essential protection and response services remains limited.
She said the initiative supports the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, emphasizing that protecting women and girls from violence is essential to promoting social justice, equality and sustainable national development.
As part of preparations for the system’s rollout, the ministry, with technical support from UNFPA, reviewed and updated the National Gender-Based Violence Codebook, a standardized reference document used to classify and record cases.
The revised codebook incorporates changing operational requirements, including provisions for phone-based case management and regional data reporting.
The minister said approximately 35 data managers and collectors from relevant government institutions and frontline service providers underwent capacity-building training to prepare for the system’s implementation.
She said sustained technical assistance, institutional strengthening, and regular monitoring would be required to keep the platform operational and effective.
Horace-Kollie also urged government institutions to improve information-sharing and coordination, while encouraging development partners to support the system’s long-term sustainability.
She called on civil society organizations and frontline service providers to maintain accurate records, protect confidential information and ensure that survivors’ rights and dignity are respected.
The minister further encouraged communities, women’s rights advocates and young people to challenge harmful practices, support survivors and contribute to efforts aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence.
She acknowledged the contributions of the European Union, UNFPA, UN Women, the United Nations Development Programme and other national and international partners toward strengthening Liberia’s response to gender-based violence.
Horace-Kollie also recognized the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 for supporting interventions aimed at advancing gender equality, preventing harmful practices and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, UNFPA Country Representative to Liberia Mady Biaye welcomed the launch but cautioned that improved information management alone would not eliminate gender-based violence.
Biaye emphasized that reliable data must be accompanied by effective policies, coordinated institutional responses and sustained action to protect survivors and prevent further abuse.
He reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment, alongside other United Nations agencies, to providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to strengthen the system’s implementation.
According to Biaye, continued cooperation would also help promote accurate, evidence-based, public-interest reporting while safeguarding survivors’ privacy, dignity, and safety.
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