𝗠𝗚𝗖𝗦𝗣 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

(𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐚, 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔), The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) has taken note of the circulation on social media of a data containing information relating to beneficiaries of the Government’s Save the Future Project.

The Ministry wishes to clarify that, following a thorough internal verification, the data reportedly in circulation are authentic and verifiable records maintained by the Ministry and associated with the Save the Future Project. However, the authenticity of these records in no way constitutes authorization for their public disclosure.

Notwithstanding, the Ministry unequivocally rejects the misleading and unfounded assertion that the data in question constitute a compilation of survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Such a characterization is false and misleading, and it fundamentally misrepresents the record. The data represents children who sell and seek solicitation on the streets, and are being removed and supported by the Government.

For the record, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection manages a significant volume of confidential and sensitive information generated through its social protection interventions. As the Government institution mandated to coordinate and oversee social protection interventions, we remain fully cognizant of our obligations under Liberia’s Data Protection and Privacy Act and other applicable legal and administrative safeguards governing the handling of private data.

The Ministry further emphasizes that its participation in the validation of the Data Protection and Privacy legal framework is a demonstration of its commitment to responsible data governance and cannot, under any circumstance, be construed as an endorsement of practices that undermine the very legal instrument it helped to develop.

Additionally, the Ministry acknowledges that it has shared collated statistics and supporting information with key funding partners to facilitate verification, monitoring, accountability, and program implementation. Such sharing, however, does not constitute authorization for further publication, reproduction, or public dissemination of personal data contained in those records.

The Ministry therefore regrets the unauthorized circulation of the information and recognizes the legitimate concerns that such disclosure may raise regarding privacy, confidentiality, and the protection of beneficiaries.

Consequently, the Ministry has launched a comprehensive internal investigation to establish, with precision and accountability, the circumstances under which the data left the Ministry’s authorized custody and control.

Howbeit, the Ministry will take all necessary measures to strengthen its internal controls and reinforce existing safeguards. In addition, the Ministry will further engage and reinforce its expectations with partners and donors to ensure that all data shared in connection with the Ministry’s programs are treated with the highest degree of confidentiality, and therefore should be handled strictly in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy standards.

The Ministry assures the public, beneficiaries, development partners, and other stakeholders that it takes the protection, confidentiality, and responsible management of personal information with the utmost seriousness.

BACKGROUND:

In another development, the Ministry can confirm that a UNICEF-funded survey conducted in 2022 revealed a staggering 366,585 children living in various street situations across Liberia, with Montserrado County accounting for 153,982 of that number.

Given the magnitude of this alarming situation, the Ministry designed and subsequently launched the Save the Future Project in August 2024 as part of a coordinated national effort to address the vulnerabilities confronting children in street situations.

The initiative seeks to identify, trace, remove, reunify, and enroll vulnerable children in school, while supporting their reintegration into safe and protective family environments.

To date, the Ministry has successfully identified, removed, reunified, and enrolled in school more than 18,000 children. This represents a significant milestone in the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children and restore their fundamental rights to family care, protection, education, and dignity.

The Ministry expresses sincere gratitude to UNICEF, Street Child Liberia, GiveDirectly, SOS Children’s Villages, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the Child Protection Network (CPN) as well as Government’s institutions for their invaluable partnership, financial and technical support, and continued collaboration in advancing the objectives of the Save the Future Project.

These strategic partnerships have been instrumental in enabling the Government to translate its commitment to vulnerable children into tangible interventions and measurable results.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection remains committed to transparency, accountability, responsible data stewardship, and the protection of the dignity and privacy of every beneficiary of its social protection program.

𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃:______________________

𝐃. 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭/𝐌𝐆𝐂𝐒𝐏

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection-Republic of Liberia Laura Marvelous Golakeh Gbeme Horace Kollie Save The Future Project Togar Saye Tarpeh Promise Payeta Urey Curtis V. Dorley Fairnoh Gbilah Sylvestrees Amara Johnson Joseph Joshua Leon Wright III