A young Liberian communications professional, Johnetta Arthur, is on a mission to ensure that Liberian children born unto parents who are not married or have separated or divorced are fully supported and protected by both parents, and in cases where there is one absentee parent, a legal or biding obligation for child support should be established.
One of the kid assisted by the organization in ensuring her father supports her
Over the past few months, Ms. Arthur has been working to assist dozens of single Liberian mothers in communities across the Liberian capital, Monrovia, to ensure that they obtain support payments from their absentee children fathers.
With encouraging success, Ms. Arthur feels the need to institutionalize her work. She would call a deadbeat dad along with the mother of his child or children and inquire why is it that he is not paying support for the upkeep of his son or daughter.
“I will just pick up my phone and with the mother with me and the child, I will them I need to speak with them,” she said.
Adding, “it is a new thing for them (men in Liberia) because no one has ever asked them, and our system does not tell them to do so. But we are seeing some cooperation and some men are trying to do something.”
Ms. Arthur is now in the process of setting up or making legal her organization, “Support and Protect Your Child, Inc.”
She said she would be happy if she can have pro bono legal assistance from any law group or law firm. She plans on reaching out to the country’s female lawyer group.
Source: Globe Afrique
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