NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has confirmed that data circulating on social media containing information about beneficiaries of the government’s Save the Future Project are authentic, but says the records were not authorized for public disclosure.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The Ministry said it concluded an internal verification of the information circulating online, describing the records as genuine and verifiable information maintained by the government and associated with the Save the Future Project.
However, the Ministry stressed that the authenticity of the records does not amount to authorization for their publication or public dissemination.
The clarification follows the circulation of the data on social media and growing concerns over the nature of the information and the identities of individuals reportedly contained in the records.
The Ministry also strongly rejected claims circulating alongside the data that the records represent a compilation of survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
According to the Ministry, that characterization is “false and misleading,” explaining that the information relates to children who sell goods or solicit on the streets and are being removed from street situations and provided with government support.
The Ministry said it handles a substantial amount of confidential and sensitive information through its various social protection programs and is aware of its responsibilities under Liberia’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, as well as other legal and administrative safeguards governing the handling of personal information.
It further emphasized that its involvement in the validation of Liberia’s data protection and privacy framework demonstrates its commitment to responsible data governance and should not be interpreted as support for practices that undermine the protections established by the law.
The Ministry acknowledged that it has shared collated statistics and supporting information with key development and funding partners for purposes including verification, monitoring, accountability and implementation of social protection programs.
However, it stressed that such sharing does not give partners authorization to publish, reproduce or publicly disseminate personal information contained in the records.
The Ministry said it regrets the unauthorized circulation of the data and recognizes the concerns raised over the privacy, confidentiality and protection of beneficiaries whose information may have been exposed.
As a result, the Ministry has launched what it described as a comprehensive internal investigation to determine how the information left its authorized custody and control.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the release of the records and determine where responsibility may lie for the unauthorized circulation.
The Ministry also said it will take additional measures to strengthen internal controls and reinforce existing safeguards governing sensitive information.
It further plans to engage development partners and donors to reinforce expectations regarding the handling of data shared through government programs, stressing that such information must be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy standards.
More than 18,000 children removed from street situations
The Ministry provided the clarification against the backdrop of what it described as a major challenge involving children living and working in street situations across Liberia.
According to the Ministry, a UNICEF-funded survey conducted in 2022 identified 366,585 children living in various street situations across Liberia, with Montserrado County accounting for 153,982 of the reported number.
The Ministry said the scale of the situation prompted it to develop the Save the Future Project, which was launched in August 2024 as part of a national effort to address the vulnerabilities facing children in street situations.
The program is designed to identify and trace vulnerable children, remove them from street situations, reunify them with families and enroll them in school while supporting their reintegration into safe and protective family environments.
The Ministry said the program has so far identified, removed, reunified and enrolled more than 18,000 children in school.
It described the figure as a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to protect vulnerable children and restore their rights to family care, protection, education and dignity.
The Ministry credited several development and humanitarian partners with supporting the implementation of the initiative.
They include UNICEF, Street Child Liberia, GiveDirectly, SOS Children’s Villages, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Child Protection Network, alongside various government institutions.
According to the Ministry, the partnerships have provided financial and technical assistance that has enabled the government to implement interventions aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable children.
The Ministry maintained that its response to the circulating data is part of its broader commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible data management.
It assured beneficiaries, development partners and the wider public that the government takes the protection and confidentiality of personal information seriously and will continue working to strengthen safeguards surrounding sensitive data generated through its social protection programs.
