LIBERIA

According to statistics from UNICEF relating to the period 2001-2007, of girls and women aged 15-49, 59% think that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.

(UNICEF, 2009,  Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF
www.childinfo.org/files/Progress_for_Children-No.8_EN.pdf)

Research by the NGO Cherish the Kids has shown that corporal punishment of children is common in most homes. In a 1999 survey of 18,000 parents of children aged 5-15 years, 85% approved of corporal punishment. Of these, 46% approved of severe beating of children in cases of "gross misbehaviour". The same organisation undertook a survey of school chapters in 1999-2000, which found that of 24,000 children from 41 schools in rural and urban areas, 81% said they had been physically punished or severely flogged by their parents. A large scale interview study of parents and children in rural areas showed that one third of children (38%) were disciplined by beating and flogging, and children reported that harsh discipline caused injuries.

(All studies reported by Cherish the Kids in correspondence with the Global Initiative, July 2004)