-Former Pres. Sirleaf urges Liberian women, as they shared insights, reflections and experiences on building and sustaining peace in Liberia.
By: Jerromie S. Walters
Over the weekend, women of Liberia conglomerated to share insights, reflections and experiences on building and sustaining peace in Liberia, and at said gathering, Liberia’s former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf heightened the need for women to pray for peace, and be the champions of peace, as they did 20 years ago.
“Do the right things, pray for peace, live for peace, be peace, be the champions of peace, be the women of peace,” she encouraged the women on Friday 25, August 2023, when they convened for an inter-generational dialogue at the Monrovia City Hall, Sinkor.
Referencing from the women’s role during the civil unset, concisely in restoring peace in Liberia, the former President said it is up them (women) and all other Liberians, to maintain the peace. “It’s going to depend on each and everyone of us, we can walk the paths of those women that walked before us,” she said.
In furtherance, she admonished the women, “To all of you, may we all pledge ourselves to peace. May we all commit ourselves to peace.” For the women, she expressed confidence in their potential, as she said they did it before and they can do it again.
Earlier at the occasion, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Christine Umutoni hailed the women of Liberia for their steadfastness that resulted to the peace that Liberians are now enjoying.
“If you were not there, we don’t know what it would have been,” she wondered.
As the pending election is expected to be managed solely by the government, she said it is a crucial moment for Liberians.
With this, she appealed to politicians and their supporters, to do all they can to ensure an elect that is peaceful and violent freed.
According to Ms. Christine Umutoni, Liberia is still in the healing process, as such, Liberians most do all they can to maintain the peace. But, she believes it is upon Liberians to uphold or disrupt the existing peace.
As the country celebrates peace, she urged the need to remember the past, which she believes will enable Liberians to value peace, and reconciliation. “The youths have a strong role to play, and they have huge examples”
The UN Resident Coordinator guaranteed the United Nations commitment and support to Liberia, in maintaining the peace, while they are hoping that the citizens remain peaceful in their doings.
From her end, UN Country Representative Comfort Lamptey, said during the heat of the civil war, the women of Liberia demonstrated that women working together in Unity can accelerate the achievement of peace or whatever they desire.
Considering the women endeavor, she said they made history in restoring peace, and electing a female President. This, she said displayed the fact that women can do better.
Madam Lamptey also recalled that the nomination of two Liberian women of the noble peace prize, saluted all the women peace builders of Liberia, and alluded that they are powerful.
She emphasized the need for this magnificent record to be stressed through more women empowerment, and contributing to a peaceful election comes October.
Also at the occasion, the Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ireland, Mr. Gerard Considine said his country is proud to celebrate with the women of Liberia, especially for their contribution to ensuring peace.
According to him, gender equality is their most intrinsic priority in Liberia, as they have consistently heightened women efforts through empowerment and violence against them in and out of politics. “We strongly value the importance of women and young women.”
In his opinion, it is important to ensure violence against women during elections, as they believe women should be afforded more opportunity to participate in politics and peace building.
At the same time, Mr. Gerard Considine frown at how political parties have ignored the 30 gender quota they signed with the National Elections Commission (NEC), and further stated that following the elections, the country will experience a decrease in the number of female legislators, due to the political parties failure to adhere to the 30% gender quota.
On the Liberia Women’s Peace Movement: The journey to date, Cllr. Madina Wesseh, thanked the UN for their support to Liberia during the crisis, and incredible women they sent to aid Liberia in ending the civil war.
Prior to the war, she said Liberian women were bystanders, but following the war, they diverted to center-stage. “If we don’t write about them that mean we won’t be able to remember them.”
She recalled the women commitment through the sun and rainy days, in an endeavor for peace.
At some point, she said the world was being deceived that it was a religious war, and at said point, the Muslim women too got involved. She said if Liberians begin to document the commitment of past women, it will encourage other women to do more positive things.
As panelists at the occasions emphasized the need for Liberians to be civil in their doings, especially during these periods of elections, as well as the commitment of the judiciary in perpetrating perpetrators of violence, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, recognized the essentiality in the women’s points, and called for peace before, during and after the elections.
At the same time, she encouraged the women to express their views, speak from their hearts and talk about things that affect them.
During the panel discussion, some of the panelists referenced their role, while younger panelists threw lights on their knowledge about women role in restoring the peace, proffer several recommendations in a bid to maintain the peace.
The panelists were Ms. Vaiba Flomo, Ms. Cecilia Danuweli, Dr. Everlyn Kandakai, Ms. Baindu Saturday, Ms. Massa Dukulu, Ms. Nusone Perkins, and Ms. Hawa Donor Varney, and amongst them all, those with the apt knowledge highlighted their roles during the civil war, and it was intrinsically gathered that they volunteered, served as health workers, and took the role of the men while the men were on out there.
As revealed by them, they initiated the Peace Outreach Project which was intended at uniting people locally, and which also resulted to a gathering of religious leaders from different religious.
Following the signing of the peace agreement, the women said they got involved in disarming the rebels and provided psychosocial healing.
In the process of disarming the rebels, they said they had absolutely no understanding of disarming but they were fast sighted in their quest and it yielded fruits because the rebels trusted them.
“We had to work over night because they trusted us and we trusted them,” one of the panelists said. Additionally, they aided in resolving some minor issues that were unfolding among other locals.
Among other significant steps they took was an engagement with the Christian and Muslim women, which they said strengthen their efforts.
At the same time, they recommended the need to highlight the works of those women that stood in a fast-sighted manner in ensuring that peace was restored, to enable the younger people to learn from their stories.
Few of the youngest panelists pointed out the need for Inclusion without invitation, which they said will embrace the inclusion of young people in activities of such.
Also during the panel which was moderated by Atty FaciaHarris and Ms. Vickjune Wutoh, the women warned politicians against tempering with the peace and urged the judiciary to hold accountable individuals that might create acts that disturb the peace.
As a guaranteed to the women’s call against violence, the Justice Ministry assured the Justice Ministry’s commitment to effectively exercising its duties, and emphasized that at this jointure, the forces of the justice system must do all they can to kick against violence.
During these periods of elections, the Justice Minster sees the proliferation of disadvantaged youths across the country as a threat to the peace, as he said they solely depend on defending themselves than seeking Justice from where it comes from.
As such, he wants the combating this situation, as they did during the civil war.
“We need you to go in these communities to see how we can help to address the issue of the people they called zogos.”
The dialogue was held in observance of the 20th Anniversary of the Accra Peace Agreement, signed on 18 August 2003 to end the second civil war in Liberia, and to usher a new era of peace. The dialogue will serve as an acknowledgement of the pivotal role played by Liberian women led by the ‘Women’s Mass Action for Peace,’ in ending the second civil war in Liberia.
The inter-generational conversation also provided a platform for young women peace builders to connect with the women who were instrumental in securing peace two decades ago, fostering a meaningful exchange of experiences and insights.
The 20th Anniversary of the Accra Peace Agreement comes at a time when Liberia is gearing up for its presidential and legislative election on October 10, 2023.
The anniversary, therefore, presents an opportunity to reiterate the importance of having peaceful elections, recognize the invaluable role women have played and continue to play in maintaining peace and empower and inspire more women to participate fully in the democratic process.
The inter-generational dialogue is a collaborative effort among partners committed to supporting Liberia to realize the country’s vision of advancing peace, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.
The Women’s Mass Action for Peace, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Centre (EJS), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, UN Women, the Embassies of Ireland and Sweden have joined hands to support this important dialogue.
