By: Jerromie S. Walters
In a bid to ensure a peaceful electoral process in October and a safe space for women, the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the Coalition of Political Parties Women in Liberia, the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), and its national and international partners, recently launched the “Show Love” campaign, a nationwide awareness campaign on non-violence elections and women’s political participation and protection.
The campaign was launched on Friday, May 5, 2023, under the theme “Let’s Maintain the Peace” with a slogan tagged “Show Love, Give Women a Chance”., at the Invincible Sports Park in Sinkor, Monrovia.
It endeavors to promote a peaceful and stable environment for all Liberians to exercise their voting rights freely and openly, without fear or intimidation, regardless of their political, cultural, religious, ethnic, or social affiliations.
In a remark, the Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Culture Ambassador Juli Endee, hailed all Liberians who joined the campaign to ensure a peaceful, stable, and violence-free electoral environment.
According to the Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, the campaign will take place simultaneously in all fifteen counties and provide a platform for national leaders to articulate messages of peace, unity, and empowerment, which serve as cardinal ingredients for peaceful coexistence.
As Liberians prepare for the pending October 2023 elections, she believes the “Show Love” campaign is a critical effort to create an ideal environment that fosters peace, tolerance, and love for the country, which will translate into a violence-free electoral environment.
Furthermore, she said it seeks to advance interventions and discussions that promote women’s empowerment, political participation, and the protection of women and girls in Liberia.
As she launched the program, the ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, thanked the women.
She hailed the government of Liberia and its partners for their continued support toward maintaining the peace of the country.
“Peace in Liberia is not negotiable; all hands are on deck” the ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, encouraged Liberians.
Moreover, UN Women Country Representative to Liberia, Madam Comfort Lamptey, applauded the campaign and encouraged all Liberians to join the quest, as she believes that when Liberia is peaceful, democracy and development can continue.
According to her, when there is peace in the country, there are more opportunities for women to participate in elections. As such, she appealed to everyone to support the effort that seeks to ensure peace.
The official launch of the peace campaign was graced by stewards of political parties, political stakeholders, aspirants, heads of national and international organizations, heads of foreign missions accredited near the capitol, Chief Zanzan Kawor, the national Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, and officials of the government to embrace the program.
The launch activities line-up included a tournament that started at 9 a.m., an official program that started at 2 p.m., and a candlelight event that started at 6 p.m. on the same day.
On her end, Gender Minister Piso Tarr lauded the initiative.
She thanked the organizers for the tournament, which endeavors to ensure the stability of Liberia’s peace before, during, and after elections.
The National Wide Awareness Campaign Peace Tournament entertained teams from different groups and was won in the kickball category by the Federation of Liberian Youths, while the boys of the Press Union of Liberia won the football aspect.
PUL boys described the victory as an endorsement by the union toward its ethical role before, during, and after the elections.
The National Civil Society Council of Liberia assured its commitment to maintaining the peace of Liberia.
The Council, through its boss, applauded the Liberia Crusaders for Peace for the initiative.
In a remark on behalf of the traditional women, Madam Sita Fofana thanked the Head of the Council of Chiefs and Elders for its commitment to the peace and stability of the country and for ensuring that their voices are heard.
She wants women to work together and disengage from acts that have the propensity to create conflict among them.
During the candle lighting, a prayer was offered for the country in the two most popular religions.
