By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia — The Youth League of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has strongly condemned Deputy Minister for Youth Development, J. Bryant McGill, over allegations of raping a 14-year-old girl, describing the act as a grave violation of human rights and a betrayal of public trust.
In a statement Thursday, the CDC Youth League labeled the alleged incident as “horrific” and a direct breach of the Children’s Law of 2011 and the Domestic Violence Act of 2019.
The group demanded McGill’s immediate suspension without pay while undergoing police investigation, rejecting what it called a “cosmetic leave of absence” that still allows the official to draw salary.
“We call for the immediate suspension without pay of Deputy Minister McGill and encourage the Liberian National Police not to compromise this grave crime against a promising young Liberian child,” Youth League Chairman Emmanuel Johnson said in a statement.
The CDC Youth League also accused the Unity Party-led government of fostering a culture of impunity around sexual violence, referencing past allegations against Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin, who, according to the statement, remains in office despite facing rape accusations.
The group expressed disappointment over the silence of major youth organizations such as the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and the Liberia National Students’ Union (LINSU), saying their inaction “jeopardizes the well-being of victims.”
In its recommendations, the Youth League called for stringent punishment for McGill if found guilty, in line with Liberian and international laws on child protection, compulsory background checks for all public officials working with children and vulnerable adults and Stronger child protection legislation to safeguard minors from abuse and neglect.
The CDC Youth League urged the Liberia Children’s Parliament, civil society organizations, and citizens to take a stand against sexual violence, stressing that “silence is complicity.”
“The Minister is not above the law; if found guilty of such heinous acts, he must face the full force of the law to ensure justice for the 14-year-old child,” the statement concluded.
