PHOTO: Some participants at the forum
By E. Festus. Frazer Jr, efgfrazerjr@gmail.com
Monrovia-The Liberian in collaboration with Liberia’s permanent mission to the United Nations and UN Women Liberia have ended a day-long women experience sharing on innovative ways of addressing violence against women and girls and achieving gender equality.
The experience sharing is Liberia’s side event of the margins of the sixty-fifth session of the commission on the status of women. It was held at the conference room of the ministry of Gender at the ministerial complex in Congo Town via Zoom, on Thursday March 18, 2021.
It was held under the theme: The Liberian experience: Women sharing experiences on innovative ways of addressing violence against women and girls in achieving gender equality.
Speaking during the virtual event, the UN Women country representative to Liberia Marie Goreth Nizigama pointed out that while women represent half of the Liberian population, yet they are still grossly underrepresented in politics and decision making positions.
“Let be known here that Liberia ranks 151 out of 193 countries in the world in female representation”, she revealed. She maintained that any form of exclusion has serious consequences for the abilities of the work force, thereby affecting economic performance. “Women representation will have a significant impact on the country,” Madam Nizigama disclosed.
She emphasized that the playing field is not as witnessed by the increased incidences of violence against women in political life which threatened women from participating.
The UN Women Country Representative at the same time used the occasion to thank the government of Liberia through the ministry of Gender Children and Social protection, the national election commission and civil society organizations for the efforts made so far towards progress in domestic violence, the land Rights and the local government acts among others.
Also speaking during the occasion, the executive director of the Crusaders For Peace has called the Liberian government to recruit more great traditional women in the local governance structure of the country.
According to Ambassador Julie Endee, traditional women in the past have been marginalized in various communities across the country adding that traditional women have been the last to speak. But She said, with the help of the United Nations, UN Women and the Swedish government, Liberia now can boost of women occupying Positions in national leadership.
“Traditional women have been left behind in the past. They have been marginalized in various places ranging from national leadership, traditional leadership and decision making and many others.” She explained. Ambassador Julie Endee who served as a panelist during the event also thanked President George Manneh Weah for appointing more women to occupy positions at the national level.
She revealed that traditional women representation is gradually getting on path under the George Manneh Weah administration in the various Counties except River Gee County that is yet to get on path.
Also speaking, Atty. Margaret Nigba said, over the years there have numerous challenges that have hindering the reporting of SGBVs but with aids from UN Women, Carter Center and the government of Liberia, the process of reporting SGBVs cases is improving.
According to the Executive Director of the group, Her Voice, the issue of domestic violence against women is not improving because those cases are heard in open Court. Something, she feels is hampering victims to persuit Justice.
She asserted that women access to justice is not complete when those women who report their cases do not get a logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social protection Williemina Piso Sadee Tarr in her introductory remarks disclosed that the government has had major achievements.
She cited the establishment of Gender and social inclusion units within various ministries and agencies and commission which is intended to booster gender mainstreaming in the national governance process.
Minister Tarr also named the revision of the national election law that requests political parties to have at least 30% women and the establishment of village loan clubs to aid women who are engaged in petty trade, as stand-out achievements the government of Liberia has made over the year; while it continues to demonstrate a Stern commitment to promote women political participation especially in decision making.
“There have been greater barriers between men and women in participation in the economy in different geographical locations but we made some important strides such as those mentioned above in making sure that women get on path with their male counterparts in decision making.” Minister Tarr asserted.
She maintained that the issue of women girls and children remain a priority of the government of Liberia. She furthered that the government has been working tirelessly with partners to support women, girls and children.