Assistant Gender, Children & Social Protection Minister, Ophelia Kennedy, says the launch of the Gender Policy by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry marks a transformative journey that recognizes gender equality not only as a fundamental human right but as a cornerstone for economic development.
Assistant Minister Kennedy added that the decision represents the Commerce Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that equality and empowerment remain central and a future where everyone contributes and benefits from the services being provided regardless of status.
Speaking recently, during the official launch of the Gender Policy Document by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Minister Kennedy said the idea recognizes the historical barriers that have hindered gender equality in Liberia’s economic landscape.
She called for workable strategies that will increase women’s participation in commerce and trade across Liberia through access to finance, entrepreneurship and the development of their skills.
Assistant Minister Kennedy pointed out that for too long women have been excluded from active participation in the commerce of the country-expressing the need for the newly launched Gender Policy to take all of the factors into consideration through support networks for their empowerment.
She also called on the Ministry of Commerce to prioritize data collection and analysis as it embarks on the implementation of the Gender Policy and revealed that doing so will enable the Commerce Ministry to make informed decisions, measure the progress being made, identify gaps, progress and challenges and design pragmatic interventions to fill the gaps and mitigate challenges to be encountered.
The Assistant Gender boss also called for increased advocacy and awareness about the newly launched Gender Policy, if the Ministry must succeed in shifting societal norms and the narratives around women’s participation in commerce and trade-related matters.
She then lauded the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and its partners for the initiative and pledged her institution’s continued collaboration in making the concept a resounding reality.
Earlier, Commerce & Industry Minister, Magdalene Dagoseh, with a strong gender background, described the launch of the Ministry’s Gender Policy as an important milestone in Liberia’s collective journey toward an inclusive society.
She said it also represents a roadmap designed to ensure that women, men and the majority are at the center of Liberia’s economic and social progress, and observed that the Policy seeks the creation of gender equity and an environment that is socially inclusive.
Minister Dagoseh further assured the public, mainly local and international partners, that the Gender policy document would not be shelved but shared with relevant institutions as a means of keeping them abreast of its provisions and to ensure full implementation through collaboration.
She also called for continued collaboration to break down barriers and eliminate gender-related discrimination in society, thus commending the Ministry’s partners, including UN Women, Gender Ministry, and all other stakeholders, for their participation in making the policy a reality.
UN Women’s Country Representative, Comfort Lamptey, hailed the launch of the Gender Policy and asserted that the decision demonstrates that the Commerce Ministry attaches importance to gender-related issues.
Madam Lamptey added that she was moved to see a woman minister at such an early stage of the launching ceremony. She pledged UN Women’s support to the initiative-adding that her organization stands with the Ministry in such a worthy undertaking.
She further observed that it was important to also see some of the factors the policy touches on, concerning issues surrounding providing equal opportunities to women and men within the various ministries, looking at addressing or creating an enabling environment for both women and men, among others.
The UN Women Country Representative also added that it was important to see the Policy align with the international framework and Liberia’s commitment to gender equality.
