The University of Liberia (UL) and the Nigeria-based International Academy for Gender and Peace (IAGP) have begun two-days West Africa Regional Conference on mainstreaming gender in the security sector in Africa.
The Liberian Leader who joined other leaders and champions of democracy for the 2nd United States Democracy Summit reminded the Forum how during his visit to Washington last December, he affirmed his commitment to free, fair, transparent and peaceful Presidential and Legislative elections due in October this year.
President Weah reemphasized his commitment on Thursday, March 30, 2023 virtually telling the world about his country’s democratic records and tracing how its struggles to strengthen and effectuate democracy are for the shared benefits of all citizens and the rest of the world.
In his statement, Weah informed the global gathering that Liberia has successfully implemented every commitment made aimed at strengthening and safeguarding democracy at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, the world leaders’ virtual plenary format discussed how to strengthen democracy in times of peril and to show how democracy still works and can improve people’s lives in tangible ways while showing how?open, rights-respecting societies can work together to effectively tackle the challenges such as the health pandemic, the climate crisis and inequality.
The virtual summit was followed by a regional in-person gathering in each of the co-host countries with representatives from government, civil society and the sector.
The Africa regional in-person gathering is co-hosted by the United States of America and Republic of Zambia with a series of presentations and panel discussions on the theme: Free Fair and Transparent Elections as the Foundation for Democratic Governance.
Giving his keynote address, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, said Africa as a region shares similar stories.
He reminded his fellow African leaders that the summit for Democracy is inspired by the collective desires of African leaders’ quest for democracy and good governance across Africa.
“We have come together to discuss pertinent issues of concerns in our respective countries and also to mobilize collective actions to respond to the challenges and how we can overcome those challenges,” he laid out the aims of the gathering. According to the Zambian leader, the Summit provides an opportunity to showcase countries’ commitment and progresses made since the first summit in 2021.
In his remarks on behalf of the American Government, the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, said democracy and human rights are under threat around the world including the United States of America.
According to Dr. Cardona, democracies whether in transition or established for decades are confronting serious challenges from within and outside of their borders.
He outlined public distrust and the failure of governments to deliver equitable and sustainable economic and political progress which has fueled political polarization and the rise of leaders who are undermining democratic norms and institutions.
“Democracy in the United States has faced setbacks and disappointments from outside and of course from within,” he stated.
He concluded that across the globe, weak state capacity, tenuous rule of law, high inequality, and corruption continue to erode democracy.
Making Liberia’s Action Report, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah underscored the gains Liberia has made so far in upholding the peace and democracy the country still enjoys.
He reminded world leaders and other delegates that an attack on one democracy is an attack all democracies noting, “Let me remind all of us, distinguish delegates at this ministerial level component of the second Summit for Democracy that democracy in Ukraine is under attack.”
The Liberian Foreign Minister rallied his colleagues to join the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, ten-count actions to peace in Ukraine.
Speaking as a panelist on the Inclusive Participation of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in Electoral Processes, the head of the National Commission on Disabilities in Liberia, Daintowon Domah Pay-bayee said inclusive participation of women youth and persons with disabilities begin at the grass-root level.
Madam Pay-bayee said inclusiveness should include every faucet of the society and at all time and not just during political processes.
She acknowledged that political participation is crucial to the inclusiveness of women, youth, and persons with disabilities but as a people, we must include marginalized groups especially Persons with Disabilities in governance structures with total independence.
She urged other countries to prioritize persons with disabilities in their governing bodies.
Closing the Summit, the Vice President of Zambia, Mutale Nalumango, said inclusiveness of the Summit indicates that African leaders are on the path of achieving true democracy.
She cautioned African leaders to continue working together to ensure sustainable democracy.
It can be recalled on December 9-10, 2021; President Biden held the first of two Summits for Democracy bringing together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector on shared effort to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies through collective action.
The December, 2021, Summit kicked-off a year of action by participants to make democracies more responsive and resilient, and to build a broader community of partners committed to global democratic renewal.
