Several political parties in Liberia have signed a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) with the National Elections Commission (NEC) geared towards ensuring a minimum of 30 percent women’s political participation in elections activities.
The MoU signed by the various political parties’ representatives and the NEC at the Monrovia City hall yesterday, May 11, 2023 comes ahead of Liberia’s crucial Presidential and Legislative elections slated for October 10, 2023.
The MoU signed by the NEC and the political parties stated that the 30 percent gender quota provides that each political institutions present names of various women at the NEC for approval.
The group of political parties in the MoU read by NEC chairperson, Davidetta Brown-Lassanah also promised to protect the rights of women and ensure a violence free campaigning for women in the country’s electoral processes.
The NEC boss noted, “Today marks a significant milestone for our nation towards democratic political environment, as this signing ceremony that we are about to witness is a very holistic display and a commitment of political parties to the enclosure women and our new political dispensation.”
According to her, the MoU for the incrimination of the minimum of 30% gender quota for candidates listing in the 2023 general elections shows readiness of the political parties to honor Liberia international commitment including the convention on the nominations of all forms of the discrimination against women SIDA.
She maintained that the Brazilian declaration and platform for action a typical to the African charter in the rights of women in Africa, the national gender policy of Liberia and the NEC gender policy and as such, Liberia is at the crossword and by the signing of the MoU, NEC reaffirms its commitment to changing the current narrative of the Liberian politics.
She added, “As we commit ourselves, we wish to congratulate the participating political parties as well as our collaborating partners the UNDP, UN, Swedish for their supports towards the success of this historic occasion.”
Speaking on behalf of the political parties, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) chairperson, Mulbah Morlu pledged to uphold the MoU enters into with the NEC.
Chairman Morlu at the same time further called on other political parties to ensure that they live in accordance with the MoU which he said is the surest way to promote women in politics as well as the sustaining of the any nations democracy.
Meanwhile, the ceremony was graced by several diplomats including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN, Swedish embassy, NEC and key political parties, CSO among others.
