On Ending Violence Against Women
Press Statement
African Women Leaders Network – Liberia Chapter congratulates the Government of Liberia for signing the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women (CEVAWG) and calls for ratification of the Convention
AWLN Liberia Chapter congratulates the Government of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the signing of the recently adopted African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women (CEVAWG).
Liberia is among the first six AU member states to do so. This is a reflection of the pivotal role played by the African Women Leaders Network at the Continental level, led by its Patron, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The process which led to the adoption of this seminal Convention, began in 2021 when Her Excellency former President Sirleaf called on African Presidents, through President Cyril Ramaphosa, AU Chair at the time, to take real steps to end the scourge and to be willing to be held accountable for progress.
African Presidents heeded the call and launched their own initiative, termed Positive Masculinity, through three Presidential Summits. AWLN Liberia applauds and expresses its gratitude to the African Presidents for this groundbreaking initiative and urges Liberia to take the next step- ratification- as quickly as possible.
The Liberia Chapter stands ready to continue its support and contribution to ensuring the implementation of the CEVAWG, once ratified.
The African Women Leaders Network Liberia (AWLN-Liberia) Chapter was launched on the 18th of December 2019. Since then, the Chapter has, under the direction of its Steering Committees, developed a five-year Strategic Plan and been engaged in several of AWLN’s priority areas, adding voice to increase the influence of women leaders and priorities of the Liberian women’s movement.
This includes the promotion of women’s political participation through advocacy for electoral law reform including a legal candidate quota, peace and security through elections monitoring and advocacy statements on ending violence against women in elections (VAWE), and maintaining Liberia’s fragile peace, and the empowerment of young women through intergenerational dialogues on women’s leadership.