The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia in collaboration (WONGOSOL) has dries the numerous challenges the women of Liberia face, particularly inequalities and proportionality in leadership and decision-making at all levels. They have also expressed their expressed interest in having more gender balance in appointed positions.
According to them, the women of Liberia would use the occasion to be committed to delivering on its obligations to regional and international instruments and Liberian women to promote legal and policy reforms.
“We hope that you will make a minimum of 30% women in your cabinet with a view towards gender balance at all levels of appointment within the executive branch,” They said.
In a statement issued over the weekend, WONGOSOL expressed the hope that the new government will consider carefully also the position of Gender Minister, as there is a great need for a minister who can unite the women’s movement and mobilize the women towards a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous country.
“Similarly, women comprise just 4-6% of Liberia’s chieftaincy positions from the general town chief to the paramount chief and are similarly underrepresented at the level of township and district commissioners and district and county superintendents/development superintendents,” the statement said. They also implore the Boakai-led government to do its utmost to appoint more women to these positions.
The statement added that Women’s movement organizations and their networks stand ready to support the government to identify suitable candidates for appointed positions at local and national levels.
Liberian women the statement indicated that they are deeply concerned at the persistence of harmful traditional practices, patriarchal attitudes, and deep-rooted stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men.
The statement said, to promote more transformative changes for gender equality and women’s empowerment, they implore the Boakai administration to commit to supporting legislative reform to address the issue of women’s underrepresentation, women’s sexual and reproductive health, and rights.
The statement pointed out that, the electoral reform bill and the Public Health Bill are two key pieces of Legislation that could help address women’s marginalization from politics and public life and provide women with more reproductive choices and freedoms, as well as reduce maternal mortality.
The statement emphasized that institutional reforms and appropriate investment are also sorely needed to address the scourge of violence against women and girls in this country, prevent violence, and end the culture of impunity for acts of violence against them.
60% of Liberian women and girls the statement added, have experienced physical violence, almost 10% have experienced sexual violence and cases of feticide appear to be on the increase.
“We also know how important agricultural reform will be to this administration and hope that policies and programs will include a specific focus on empowering rural women and women in agriculture and the agricultural value chain” The statement noted.
The statement is quoted as saying that, the need to conduct a nationwide reconciliation after the 2023 General and Presidential Election is paramount taking into consideration the dissemination of Mis-information and Dis-information during and after the elections, which has the propensity to disrupt the fragile peace we now enjoy.
“Therefore, as we transition to a new leadership, we commit to remain peaceful. We reaffirm our commitment to uphold the rule of law and work closely with the government to ensure that the Liberian Women’s Agenda is prioritized” the statement said.
The statement also said it is their ardent hope that all Liberians will remain productively committed to working collectively in the interest of all Liberians. We look forward to a government that will not be compromised for individual ambitions.
Allegiance to Liberia the statement said must remain the common denominator for sustaining peace and the pursuit of development.
“Mr. President-elect, the women of Liberia under the banner of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL)” the statement said. The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia in collaboration also request a meeting with you to present our position.
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia in collaboration with its network organizations, however, congratulated Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, the Unity Party and its collaborating parties for their election during the 2023 General and Presidential Elections.
