By Laurina B. Lormia (Intern)
With just a few days to the inauguration of President-elect, Joseph Boakai, and Vice president-elect, Jeremiah Koung, several women have expressed their views on how the new government could help in the empowerment of women in Liberia.
A senior student at the United Methodist University (UMU), Quita Alma Goldore, told this paper that, in order to improve women empowerment, the new government should focus on implementing comprehensive policies that would address gender inequality and lift the issues of women on the table.
“The government should invest more into education by ensuring equal access to quality education for girls and women. This will empower them with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary for active participation in various fields,” Goldore stressed.
According to her, the government needs to Implement programs that provide financial support, training, and opportunities for female entrepreneurs to foster economic independence, reducing gender-based violence, and economic disparities.
“Legislative measures should be strengthened to protect women’s rights; enforcing and enhancing laws that address issues such as domestic violence, discrimination, and harassment, is pivotal in creating a safer environment for women,” she asserted.
Goldore observed that women empowerment requires collaboration with law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, and civil society organizations, to ensure effective implementation and accountability.
“Fostering a cultural shift is essential. The government can play a role in challenging traditional gender norms and stereotypes through awareness campaigns and educational initiatives that would promote positive portrayals of women in media and encouraging community dialogues on gender equality, which, by far, can contribute to changing societal attitudes towards women empowerment in Liberia,” she maintained.
For her part, Deborah Karley suggested that one of the ways through which the government can improve women empowerment is by providing job opportunities to reduce the poverty rate in the country, to ensure that women take some initiative to reduce the stress on the men.
“The government should be able to give loans to business women so that they can provide quality education for their children, because they are the future leaders of the country,” Karley added.
For Kuku Brooks, she believes that, to empower women, the government of President-elect Boakai should open more vocational and tertiary institutions, which will enable women have basic skills to contribute meaningfully to the society.
