By Precious D. Freeman
The Business for Peace Community Development Foundation (B4P CODEFOUND), in partnership with reputable CSO and women-led organizations in Liberia and the United States of America, is gearing up to Commemorate the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 68).
The Business for Peace Community Development Foundation (B4P CODEFOUND), a Liberian nonprofit organization accredited and operational both in the United States and Liberia, is helping to influence the convergence of women and youth organizations in Liberia to travel to New York to participate in this year’s 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The event that began on March 11 will run through March 22, 2024, with members of the Liberian delegation traveling to New York, including the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP), politicians and members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus and Civil Society representatives, including the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Sister Aid Liberia (SAL), The National Rural Women Structure of Liberia, Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD), amongst others.
In commemoration of the CSW, they will also honor the 4th edition of the Liberia-Diaspora Dialogue Women and Youth Forum (LDDWYF), to be held on the Theme: “Rethinking strategies for accelerating the empowerment of women and girls through institutional strengthening and financing for poverty reduction.”
More than 250 participants (mostly Liberians) from seven countries, including Liberia, Lebanon, France, Canada, Nigeria, Germany, and the United States of America, have participated in these dialogues, and are expected to again join the conversation this year.
The forum aims to help foster dialogue, localize the CSW, and provide Liberian women and youth the opportunity to gain experience, enhance solidarity building efforts in Liberia and the USA, as well as continue to amplify their voices and enhance their advocacy and leadership potentials where they find themselves.
While in New York, B4P CODEFOUND will also inspire dialogue aimed at helping increase networking and partnership building efforts between the Staten Island Liberian Community Association (SILCA), The Liberian delegation, including CSO, and the government; the New York City Council and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as representatives and members of other Liberian community associations across the United States of America.
Apart from the international gathering of women in Manhattan, New York, B4P CODEFOUND’s established Bong County Women and Youth Development Cooperation (BWYDC), and partner organization, Capacity for Youth (C4Y), located in Bomi County, which have also mobilized more than 30 participants in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, and 100 participants across the thirteen districts in Bong County, to virtually participate and commemorate both the CSW 68 and the Liberian-Diaspora Dialogue Women and Youth Forum scheduled for March 15, beginning at 1:30 pm.
These events are generally hybrid with global coordination being done from New York City. As usual, government representatives, politicians, as well as women leaders and activists from around the world, including Liberian women, will again gather to assess the level of progress being made at the level of governments, civil society, as well as the business and donor communities.
Additionally, they will assess efforts being made towards gender equality, women empowerment, and the Sustainable Development Goals, amongst others.
