BY Gabriel M C Parker
TUBMANBURG, Liberia–The Ministry of National Defense (MoD), with support from UN Women, has launched a week-long awareness campaign in Western Liberia aimed at increasing the recruitment of women into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader effort to promote gender equality in Liberia’s security sector and encourage more women and girls to consider careers in the military.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, the Acting Director of the Department of Gender and Social Inclusion at the Ministry of National Defense and the AFL, Miss Toukpor M. Richards, said the Ministry has set a target of increasing women’s representation in the AFL to 40 percent by 2030.
She said the target is consistent with the Ministry’s gender inclusion policy and Liberia’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment.
“Our goal is to increase women’s participation in the AFL to 40 percent by 2030,” Miss Richards stated.
“We believe that greater inclusion of women will strengthen our security institutions and contribute significantly to national development.”
Miss Richards said the campaign seeks to educate women about opportunities available within the AFL while dispelling misconceptions about military service.
She encouraged women not to allow stereotypes to discourage them from pursuing a career in uniform.
As part of the outreach activities, the Ministry’s delegation held interactive discussions with rural women in Bomi County.
The sessions focused on informing participants about recruitment opportunities and the requirements for joining the AFL.
The team also met with young women and female students of Western Region University.
Officials explained the various career paths available within the military beyond combat roles.
“There are opportunities in administration, engineering, medicine, communications, logistics, education, and many other professional fields,” Miss Richards told participants.
“Women have the ability and the right to serve their nation in every capacity.”
Miss Richards further stressed that increasing women’s participation in the security sector would strengthen national peacebuilding efforts and improve the effectiveness of the country’s armed forces.
“Women have an important role to play in peacebuilding, national security, and leadership,” she said.
“A more inclusive Armed Forces will be more professional, more representative, and better equipped to serve the Liberian people.”
The week-long awareness campaign will continue across other counties in Western Liberia.
Officials from the Ministry of National Defense and its partners will engage community leaders, youth organizations, educational institutions, and women’s groups.
The Ministry urged women and girls in Bomi and surrounding counties to take advantage of the opportunities and apply to serve their country.
Organizers said a more diverse AFL will better reflect Liberia’s population and enhance the nation’s security and development goals.