…Former VP Taylor Admonishes to Be Driven by Skills
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
Former Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Haward Taylor has called on young women and girls not to exploit their bodies to achieve what they want.
According to her, there are lots of dangers associated with sexual exploitation to achieve one goal. “Sex must not be your driver that will drive you towards your desires. The moment you start to use sex to achieve what you want, you are making a decision to expose yourself to sicknesses and diseases that would cut your life short.” Said former VP Taylor.
The former vice president made the call to young women on Saturday, May 25, 2024, when she delivered the keynote address at the occasion marking the National Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Conference (NWLEC- 2024) held at the Paynesville Town Hall. NWLEC- 2024) was a day-long conference supported by UN Women – Liberia.
Also in her remark, she informed the young women that sexual exploitation and abuse are often caused by pressure from poverty and family. Therefore, she admonished them not to bow to those pressures but to find a healthy solution to empower themselves.
Madam Taylor added that violence caused by poverty can be avoided with a determined mind for business. “If you are serious and determined to make business, you will not submit to the pressure from poverty to subject yourself to violence. There are many girls who were not bored with civil-spoon. They were bored to home of poverty but are making a difference today because they didn’t subject themselves to the violence of poverty. They are determined to make business, today those women are far from the violence and pressure of poverty.”
Meanwhile, she admonished mothers not to subject their young daughters to the violence of poverty by requesting them to bring home materials and food to sustain the home.
“When we were growing up, despite all the challenges caused by poverty, our mothers were not asking us to bring home a bag of rice, by saying, “Your friends are doing this for your parents but you are just in this house doing nothing.”
She asserted that these statements made by mothers nowadays are pressured from the home which drives young women and girls into sexual exploitation and abuse. Therefore, she wants mothers to guide their young daughters in the right direction that will bring forth positive fruits of pride to the family.
At the same time, the former VP noted that women and girls must be supportive of one another if they must overcome the pressure of violence. She asserted that it is only a woman who will fully understand the issues confronting women and girls.
“If your friend woman wants to do something positive, you must support her. You must be supportive of a woman to have a seat at the national legislature. It is only when women are in the majority at the legislature, they will make positive laws that will impact and change the conditions of their fellow women.”
Also at the occasion, Madam, Maurene D. Cooper, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Support Women Africa stated the occasion marking the National Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Conference 2025, is a significant milestone in the journey to address the pervasive issue of violence against women and children in Liberia.
She said it aims to create a memorable and impactful event that will not only raise awareness about Women’s Leadership, Education, Entrepreneurship, Violence against Women, Social Justice, and the Rule of Law; but also galvanize support from the government of Liberia, Development Partners, Women Lead Organizations, local and international organizations among others.
Madam, Maurene D. Cooper added that since the launch, the organization has been able with your support to train three hundred (300) women and young adults in fifteen Communities from two counties; Montserrado and Margibi Counties in the areas of Women Entrepreneurship Girls and Women Education
Inclusive Women’s Political Participation and Leadership at all levels to fight against domestic violence, Marginalization, and FGM and Promote Women’s Rights.
The CEO of Women Support Women added that the key objectives of the conference are to accelerate the personal and professional development of Women and provide guidance, capacity building of Women, and diversification of Women
Volunteers and introduction of value addition to quality output of Women-led activities.
Moreover, she said the conference will enhance women’s Political actors’ knowledge of the importance of Women’s participation at the highest level of decision-making; With an overall goal to buttress the efforts in promoting Women’s Empowerment, Education, Participation in Political Leadership, and reducing insecurity of Women through Mentorship and Empowerment.
Madam Maurene D. Cooper added that it seeks to amplify Women’s Voices, and excel in Premier Women’s advocacy, Education,
Entrepreneurship and Empowerment; Fight to end the culture of Marginalization against women (Female Genital Mutilation), Gender Advocacy, entrepreneurship, and Social Justice for all.
Conclusively, she stated that the conference will foster and promote women’s leadership at all levels to meet up with the 30% of Women representation at the national legislature.
