By Precious D. Freeman
Acting Defense Minister, Brigadier General Geraldine Janet George, has expressed her thanks and appreciation to UN Women for opportunities given to not only Liberia but the Armed Forces of Liberia particularly, through the Elsie Initiative Fund, to increase the participation of military women in peace operations.
The Elsie Initiative Fund seeks to accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations gender targets in line with Security Council Resolutions and Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy helping to close the gap to parity.
Created by the United Nations and Canada in 2019, it supports the sustainable deployment and meaningful participation of uniformed women peacekeepers by offering financial assistance through project funding and/or providing a Gender Strong Unit (GSU) premium where member States deploy a substantial representation of women among formed units or troops including at command level.
Minister George made the statement on Friday, April 19, 2024, when Ms. Comfort Lamptey, Country Representative of UN Women in Liberia paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of National Defense.
Minister George also disclosed that one of her priorities for the staff of the Ministry of National Defense is capacity building in all spectrums of national security, and this can seamlessly be achieved by working along with UN Women.
The UN Women boss, Comfort Lamptey, promised more support to Liberia’s defense sector and emphasized that UN Women looks forward to continued collaboration in strengthening the Ministry of National Defense Department of Gender and Social Inclusion.
“We will do all that we can to support you because we like to showcase successful women in leadership,” she further promised.
It can be recalled that with support from UN Women the Ministry of National Defense launched its gender policy and five-year action plan which are being successfully implemented and gradually achieved, respectively.
