President Joseph Boakai has received the Liberian ARREST WOMANIFESTO and the Call to Action to engage and respectfully demand inclusion in the national agenda as enshrined in Article 17 of the Constitution.
The document was presented by Atty. Mmonbeydo Nadine Joah and Facia B. Harris at the Women’s Town Hall organized by the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection in collaboration with PASS Women’s Accountability Room.
Speaking on the purpose of the meeting at the start of the town hall, Atty. Joah noted, the legitimacy to engage and respectfully demand inclusion in the national agenda is enshrined in Article 17 of the Constitution of Liberia, which guarantees every citizen the right to petition the government for redress of any kind.
She also explained that the inclusion of women in the national dialogue is not only a matter of justice but also a strategic imperative for the sustainable development of Liberia.
Other speakers included Madam Cecelia Danuweli, Cllr. Tonieh Wiles, Madam Naomi Tulay Solanke, Madam Josephine Francis, Jodie Reid Seton, and popular Laura Birane Cisse.
They noted the specific differences between men and women in various thematic areas including Peace and Security and Gender Equality calling for the ARREST agenda to be mainstreamed across all thematic areas.
Gender Minister, Gbeme Horace Kollie extended a special welcome to all and expressed hope that the gathering will set other opportunities and possibilities to ensure gender parity in the national development program of our country moving forward.
She Kollie said, “We envisioned a process that genuinely strives for an equitable society recognizing that failing to include women in the national priorities will result in a significant gap in various areas of societal development.”
Minister Kollie added, “Together let us seize this opportunity and champion the collective result to prioritize gender equality and social inclusion in all of our national plans.”
“I am very confident that through collaboration and dialogue, we can achieve a shared vision of a country where every individual regardless of where they come from can fulfill their potential,” she added.
Receiving the document, President Boakai noted, that he believes in the cause of women because they are patient to get things organized and wondered, “How can we afford to leave them? I should know that better because they always want to see things work.”
Boakai emphasized that gender equality is not an argument, but an opportunity for the country, noting that women don’t think about work as an occupation but means of getting things work for all.”
The President at the same time cautioned older women to mentor the younger generation of women and girls.
Despite international human rights agreements, Liberia’s 2023 elections showed women holding only 10.7 percent of legislative seats, highlighting the country’s underrepresentation in leadership roles.
As of June 1, 2024, 1,226 appointments were made, with 83 percent men and 17 percent women, with women only five percent in town chiefs, clan chiefs, paramount chiefs, and circuit court judges.
