The Ministry of Internal Affairs has concluded a one-day workshop aimed at strengthening its Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) policy.
The policy aims to tackle a range of challenges faced by women, including economic empowerment, health concerns, access to leadership roles, and obstacles to political participation.
It also seeks to address systemic disparities to achieve true gender balance in governance.
The workshop was held on Wednesday, November 6, in Monrovia, and was led by the Ministry of Gender and Social Inclusion Unit, to integrate gender equality into various development policies and frameworks within the Ministry and government at large.
Making remarks, the Director of the Gender Social Inclusion Unit, Cecelia J. Gould, outlined the session’s objective to foster collaboration, share insights, and strengthen commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.
According to her, they are here to create and discuss practical pathways to address barriers that hinder the full participation of women and marginalized groups,” adding that, the success of the policy lies in the active engagement of all participants.
She stressed that attendees were invited to contribute through constructive critiques and feedback on the GSI policy draft, ensuring that it will not only serve as a guideline but also lead to sustainable change in the Ministry’s practices.
“We must seize this opportunity to make the Gender and Social Inclusion Policy a catalyst for positive change,” Mrs. Gould concluded, reinforcing the collective responsibility to uplift all communities through inclusive governance.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Research Development Planning, Edward K. Mulbah, emphasized the necessity of implementing gender markers in all government projects and budget formulations, urging that women’s voices must be integrated into governance processes.
He added that numerous studies have underscored persistent inequalities, revealing that women are often confined to lower professional positions in Ministries and Agencies, while men dominate senior roles.
He, however, highlighted the commitment of the Ministry to promoting women’s roles in peace-building and governance, insisting that a comprehensive system must be enacted across all government bodies to facilitate women’s participation.
“Women should unite and support one another for social inclusion and empowerment, rather than engaging in rivalry,” he concluded.
