By Tokpa M. Tarnue,ย tarnue82@gmail.com
The Defense Ministry, through the Armed Forces of Liberia (๐๐๐), has intensified efforts to increase female participation in the military with National Awareness Program aimed at promoting women’s inclusion in the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The initiative, supported by The Elsie Initiative Fund, UN Women, and For All Women and Girls, seeks to improve public understanding of the role of women in military service, challenge negative social norms, and strengthen family and community support for women who aspire to serve in the AFL.
The awareness campaign is currently being conducted across Liberia’s Northern Region, including Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, bringing together Stakeholders, young people, community leaders, women groups, and other. Heading the team is ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ, ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ณ๐ป๐ช.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ, Assistant Chief of Staff for Communication,
๐๐ป๐๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ถ Director for Public Affairs and others. According to organizers, the program is designed to support ongoing MOD/AFL efforts to promote gender equality and ensure that women have equal access to career opportunities within the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Key discussion topics during the awareness sessions include the mandate and mission of the AFL, career opportunities for women, recruitment requirements and eligibility criteria, gender inclusion policies, leadership and professional development opportunities, and the role of women in peacekeeping operations.
Participants are also being educated on balancing military service with family life, prevention of sexual exploitation and harassment, welfare benefits, career advancement opportunities, and direct engagement with serving female officers and soldiers who share their experiences in the military.
Speaking during the program, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ, ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป emphasized that, increasing women’s participation in the AFL is critical to building a more inclusive, professional, and effective security sector that reflects the diversity of Liberia’s population therefore she encourage young girls from Age 18-35 to take advantage of this opportunity.
๐ค๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐:
- You must be a high school graduate with successful pass in at least 5 subjects of the National Exam including English and Mathematics.
- You must be a Liberian citizen.
- You must Have Birth Certificate.
- You must be in the age range of 18-35.
The campaign is being held under the theme “Women in Uniform, Peace in Action” and carries the message “When Women Serve, Liberia Thrives,” highlighting the important role women play in promoting national peace, security, and development.
The Defense Ministry and its partners expressed hope that the awareness initiative will inspire more Liberian women and girls to consider military service as a viable career path and contribute meaningfully to national security and peacebuilding efforts.