By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Gbeme Horace-Kollie is calling on government, local and international development organizations to prioritize gender-responsive financing that are geared towards increasing public spending on essential services and social protection for women and girls across all spectrum of society.
Addressing the media on Monday, March 4, 2024, at the launch of the international women’s day which is held under the global theme : “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress” and also commemorated under a National Theme: “Empower Her, Empower All” Minister Horace-Kollie recorded that the world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. And that UN Women Global has warned that if current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030.
Therefore she says to confront these challenges that are intended to hinder the progress of women, everyone must ensure women’s needs and priorities are considered by increasing gender-responsive financing and public spending on essential services and social protection for women.
“The world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. UN Women Global has warned that if current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. To confront these challenges and ensure women’s needs and priorities are considered, we must prioritize gender-responsive financing and increase public spending on essential services and social protection for women.”
She asserted that although women’s equality has made positive gains, the world is still unequal. herefore, there is still a need to focus and redirect our attention to areas that require action such as women’s social, economic and political participation and empowerment. She stated that significant and collective actions are shared ownership for driving gender parity.
The Minister of Gender said there is a need for a robust and innovative way for gender equality and the empowerment of women to be advanced, particularly in the areas that would provide women and girls with equal access to economic empowerment, as well as involving them in decision-making processes.
She asserted that there are multiple obstacles that prevent women from breaking these barriers of financial opportunities. She stated that it calls for collaborative efforts amongst state and non-state actors as well as local and international partners, particularly those in the business of attracting economic opportunities for women, girls and other marginalized groups. With this, she cautioned that efforts must transcend political boundaries.
Demographically, the Minister of Gender added that women earn 23% less than men globally, while at the same time, women occupy only 24% of parliamentary seats worldwide. Adding that 1 in 3 women have experienced physical/sexual violence.
She further asserted that not one country can claim to have achieved gender equality because these multiple obstacles remain unchanged in laws and in cultures. Therefore, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is making a rallying call for action.
Meanwhile, she stated that the International Women’s Day creates an opportunity for women to come out and compel the world and its surroundings to recognize these inequalities as well as celebrate the achievements of women who have overcome these barriers.
The Gender Minister continued by adding that the overall objective of the 2024 IWD is to leverage on the existing investment opportunities for women and girls, and to create an enabling environment to enhance women’s access to financial, socio-economic and political inclusion into national development.
Additionally, she noted that the day creates a platform for heightening efforts that seek to discover additional empowerment opportunities for women and girls, and the promotion of gender equality, as well as rallying support to increase women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles in governance and at all levels.
“The overall objective of this year’s IWD is to leverage on the existing investment opportunities for women and girls, and to create an enabling environment to enhance women’s access to financial, socio-economic and political inclusion into national development. Additionally, the day creates a platform for heightening efforts that seek to discover additional empowerment opportunities for women and girls, and the promotion of gender equality, as well as rallying support to increase women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles in governance and at all levels.”
Minister Horace-Kollie stated that the goal for the 2024 international women’s day is to increase women’s economic opportunity by supporting and creating avenues that help women access low-interest loans from financial institutions and to be able to control their own incomes.
She added that a growing body of research shows that enhancing women’s economic participation improves national economies, increases household productivity and living standards, and as well enhances the wellbeing of children with positive long term impacts and can increase women’s agency and overall empowerment.
The celebration of the International Women’s Day, a global campaign commemorated every year in the month of March, highlighting the amazing social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women, while also campaigning for greater progress towards gender equality at all levels.
The Month of March is being historically recognized as Women’s Month, thus promoting activities and advocacies that exclusively focus on women’s agenda and a way forward in tackling women’s issues and how to empower them in the coming years.
On Friday, March 8, 2024, Liberia will join the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 edition of the International Women’s Day (IWD).
The International Women’s Day (IWD) grew out of efforts in the early 20th century to promote women’s rights, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. This is a Moment for every woman regardless of our political affiliation, tribal background, social and economic status.
Meanwhile, the Minister outlined the activities leading to the 2024 IWD by revealing that the celebration will begin onFriday, March 8, with a grand parade led by the Ministry of Gender and supported by Heads of Government Ministries and Agencies including Members of the Donor Community, Diplomatic Corps and CSOs.
She said that the parade will begin from the SKD Boulevard Junction to the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town beginning at 9:00AM.
Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie concluded by intimating that the parade will be followed by a Networking and Health Screening session from 9:30 to 10:30AM in the compound of the Ministerial Complex after which an official Indoor Program would be held in the Theatre of the EJS Ministerial Complex commencing at 11:00am.
She noted that the colors of the for IWD are Purple, Green and White. Asserting that Purple signifies justice and dignity, Greensymbolizes hope, White represents purity & Peace. The Minister also stated that for the purpose of unifying women, all women will commemorate the dominant WHITE. That is, Liberia’s official color for the IWD. She lauded Liberia’s development partners, Civil Society Organizations, and the Women of Liberia for their overwhelming support and renewed commitment to support women’s endeavor.
