Wednesday, December 13, 2022, in the city of MONROVIA: In Monrovia, the National Elections Commission (NEC), through its Gender Section, and with support from partners, have just finished a one-day dialogue on the Violence Against Women in Elections and Politics (VAWIE/P) Protocol and its Action Plan with lawmakers and female aspirants in the 2023 general elections. The dialogue focused on the VAWIE/P Protocol and its Action Plan.
The topic of the conversation, which lasted for one day, was “Promoting an Inclusive and Safe Environment for the Participation of Women in Elections and Politics.”
The Electoral Support Office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with partners such as the Peace Building Fund, Irish Aid, Sweden Sverige, and UN Women, provided the funding for the gender dialogue.
Josephine Kou Gaye, the NEC Commissioner with Oversight on Gender, expressed her joy at the fact that for the first time since the VAWIE advocacy campaign began, members of the 54th National Legislature, the Women Legislative Caucus, female aspirants for the 2023 General Elections, and other election stakeholders were all gathered at one forum. She did this in order to officially launch the gender dialogue.
Commissioner Kou Gaye, speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of NEC, urged women to gain their own understanding of the VAWIE and Protocol and to become familiar with the roles and responsibilities that are assigned to them under the VAWIE and Protocol.
When questions and concerns are brought up in relation to the advocacy of the VAWIE/Protocol and action plans, the NEC Commissioner with Oversight for Gender stated that the Commission will continue to be open to providing assistance to women as outlined in the Protocol.
The one-day dialogue on the VAWIE/Protocol will include participants from the 54th National Legislature, such as Senator Dr. Henrique Togba, Chairperson on Autonomous Agencies and Elections; Senator Borto Kannah; Representative Thomas Gosuah; and others; the Deputy Gender Minister for Children and Social Protection; the Women NGOs Secretariat; and WONGOSOL, amongst others.
