Liberia's One-Stop Centers Help 225,500 Violence Survivors

When a survivor of sexual violence walks into Redemption Hospital's one-stop center in Monrovia, Liberia, she finds everything she needs in one place: police to take her report, doctors to examine her, counselors to support her healing, and lawyers to help her seek justice.

These centers are changing lives across Liberia. Over the past four years, more than 225,500 women and children accessed health services, legal aid, protection, and economic support through the Spotlight Initiative's Africa Regional Programme.

Jerridin A. Dongbo, who heads Redemption Hospital's center, sees about five cases daily. Most involve rape, and tragically, most perpetrators are relatives. Victims range from infants just six weeks old to teenagers, with most between 11 and 17 years old.

The process is designed to be as gentle as possible. Survivors use pictograms to describe what happened, reducing trauma while ensuring proper documentation for court. "The greatest joy in my life is when my cases reach court and we obtain justice for the survivors," Dongbo says.

Grace, a 17-year-old survivor whose name has been changed for privacy, found safety at the center after being raped by her gospel band leader. He lured her to his home under the pretense of rehearsal, then attacked her when she tried to leave. "I went to my room and cried and cried," she says. With her mother's support, she reported the crime and now trusts the center to help her secure justice.

The Spotlight Initiative recently renovated Redemption Hospital's center, fixing sewage lines, repairing septic tanks, and providing medical supplies. More importantly, they trained staff on creating environments where survivors feel safe enough to speak freely.

Why This Inspires

The growing trust in these centers shows in the numbers. As community awareness spreads, more survivors are coming forward to report assaults. They know their stories will be heard, their experiences documented properly, and their cases taken seriously. What once happened in silence is now met with comprehensive support and a real path to justice.

Dongbo credits her training with teaching her the most valuable lesson: befriending survivors and creating spaces where they can talk with confidence. That human touch, combined with professional medical and legal services, is helping break cycles of violence in Liberian communities.

These centers prove that comprehensive care works. When survivors don't have to navigate multiple locations and tell their story repeatedly to different officials, they're more likely to seek help and see their cases through to justice.