GBARNGA, August 3 (LINA) - Actionaid Liberia says it has raised US$3 million to enhance and protect the rights of women, girls and others being discriminated against in four of Liberia’s 15 counties.

According to the ActionAid Project Officer in Bong County, Maryealee Tetee Pennoh, the five-year project with support from the Embassy of Sweden targets 5,000 persons living in 45 communities in Grand Gedeh, Bong, Gbarpolu and Montserrado counties.

Speaking at the weekend at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Gbarnga, the Actionaid Project Officer said the organization and its implementing partners will from now to December 2018 focus on women, girls and groups exposed to stigma and discrimination.

She said this is the group’s way of helping the marginalized to enjoy fundamental human rights as well as provide capacity building for them.

The project will further focus on addressing discrimination and strengthening sub-national state and non-state actors to support Government’s effort in ending violence against women and other vulnerable groups in the targeted counties.

She said the program will be implemented in phases, including its inception, program scale-up, reality check, mid-term evaluation and continued implementation, evaluation and exiting.

For the implementation of the project, Actionaid Liberia is partnering with Stop Aids in Liberia (SAIL), National Association on Harmful Practices (NATPAH), Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), among others.

Meanwhile, the Administrative Assistant to Bong County Superintendent, Joseph M. Urey, has, on behalf of Bong County authorities, pledged support to the project and thanked Actionaid for considering Bong County as a beneficiary.

The meeting brought together representatives from line ministries, civil society organizations, youth and women groups as well as the media.

By Ballah Kollie, LINA Bong County Correspondent

LINA BK/TSS/PTK