With less than six days to Liberia’s October 10, 2023, legislative and presidential elections- Sister Aid Liberia Inc. (SALI) in collaboration with WONGOSOL over the weekend concluded a day-long debate with five political parties in Monrovia.
The debate which was held under the theme “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment” is aimed at strengthening women’s political participation in Liberia is funded by UNDP, Peace Building Fund, Irish Aid, European Union with funding from Irish Aid, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency through UN Women.
The one-day panelist discussion brought together five political parties’ national chairpersons including the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Movement for One Liberia (MOL), All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), Africa Liberation League (ALL), National Liberia People’s party (LPP) and Liberia Transformation Party (LTP) and over hundred participants (mostly women) from different works of life across Monrovia and its environs.
Sister Aid Liberia Inc., Executive Director, Miatta Darwolor, said the debate is intended to ascertain from political parties what is in their parties’ manifestos for women’s rights and empowerment as we approach the October 10 polls.
According to Madam Darwolor, during the electioneering period, issues that are affecting the lives of women are being overlooked by politicians, stressing that the debate aims to flag those issues that women, as a marginalized group are faced with.
Sister Aid Liberia is a women-led non-governmental organization that promotes young women and girls’ rights in political participation and leadership; works to prevent violence against women and girls; and advocates for women-friendly policies and laws mentioned.
Addressing the issue of women’s participation in political parties, the ruling CDC represented by Assistant Minister for Regional Development Research & Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Alvin C. Wesseh asserted that his party, the CDC has adopted 40% intra-party women’s participation evidence by the appointment of more women in strategy positions within the CDC government.
According to Ass.Min. Wesseh, an example of his party’s commitment to supporting women’s participation at the higher level in government for instance, the vice president, the minister of health, the Chief Justice, the Assistant Defense minister, and among other prominent women in high government positions is a clear manifestation of their part mandate to support women political participation.
Ass. Min. Wesseh further commented on the gains his government has made in the educational and health sectors.
He said, his government has made a significant impact when it comes to education and health. He named the free tuition policy and the payment of WAESSC fees instituted by the ruling CDC and the construction of the 14th military hospital, the Emery Hospital in Gbarpolu, and the River Cess referral hospital as his government ways of improving the health and educational sectors respectively.
Still at the debate, the participants who were mostly women from different NGOs raised questions to the guest panelists about the challenges women mostly face in leadership and political participation.
The women-dominated participants were concerned as to how the various political parties intend to address the issue of FGM, GBV, the 30% women participation, women empowerment education, and health, and single mothers who are mostly neglected by men that are catering to children at home instead of sharing equal opportunity, and equal participation in national decision-making, and politics can be minimized.
The participants raised challenges about discrimination amongst their male counterparts; lack of financial opportunity to convince their followers, intimidation, and fear of public speaking by their male counterparts, among others.
Each of the panelists representing their political party, including ALCOP chairman Mr. Cheick Ousame Toure, MOL, chairman Mr. Alexander T. Gibson, the chairman of ALL Mr. Kansualism B. Kansuah, and LPP chairman Mr. Abraham Tiaquincy responded to the participant’s questions and told them about their parties engagement in resolving these issues raised by them.
They spoke of their party’s ongoing activities in addressing some of the issues raised by the participants. They laid their respective party plan for education, health, GBV, FGM, women’s empowerment, and the issue of drugs that are damaging the youths.
Except for African Liberation League National Chairman Mr. Kansualism B. Kansuah, who said his party does not have Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) captured in their manifesto and their political institution does not discuss it because it is a cultural issue.
He noted: “I’m deeply rooted in traditional practices. In my county, Bong, we still practice FGM. My grandmother had FGM and gave birth to twelve children. My mother also practices FGM and also gave birth to eight children. It is my tradition. I cannot discuss it,” he started.
The debate was moderated by the CEO of Women’s TV Liberia Lisa Diessay at the Mamba point Hotel in Monrovia.
