Some 90 Days To The October 10 Elections
FLASHBACK: UN Women and partners in Liberia sign agreement on women political participation
Monrovia- Women organizations in Liberia have expressed grave concerns over the low level of female aspirants who have completed their candidate registration process with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and they are calling on political parties to implement the 30% gender representations.
Political Parties had earlier this year committed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they signed with NEC on section 4.5 of the Election Law of Liberia on May 11,2023.
In a press statement read by Hawa Jembell of Organization for Women and Children and Beatrice Newland of Power Liberia in Monrovia on July 10,2023, the women groups said that the official updates released by the National Elections Commission (NEC) as of July 7,2023, appalling only 46 representing (13.4) of the 343 aspirants who have registered to contest in the October 2023 Legislative elections are women.
The 25 Political Parties including Coalition signed the MOU committing to have not less than 30% women on their candidate lists. In addition, some Political Parties set voluntary candidates quota of 40%.
According to the women organizations, the MOU was necessary in the absence of the electoral reform bill which had a mandatory 30% quota and fines for no compliance.
“This will be the third time in Liberia’s Democratic dispensation that reforms for equal participation do not get to be signed into law ahead of the general and presidential elections slated in October of this year.”
The Liberian women expressed interest in legal and policy reform to advance women’s Political Participation for more than 20 years and have been continually let down by elected officials and political parties who do not serve their interests.
The press statement maintained that Political Parties have continually failed to endeavor to ensure that not less than 30% are on their list. It added that between 2005 and 2015, not a single Party met the 30%. Again in 2017, just one of the 24 Parties despite the legal mandate for the National Elections Commission to require Political Parties to demonstrate an endeavor to ensure gender representation, the NEC has been unsuccessful in holding Political Parties accountable or Compelling them to provide evidence of compliance or programs aimed at fulfilling this requirement.
“This is unacceptable within a democracy especially considering that women comprise half of the population” the statement said. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, it is crucial that we break away from business as usual and take significant steps towards promoting women’s political participation. Political parties have continually demonstrated that they do not have any interest in strengthening their internal democracy and promoting equal political participation.
Additionally, the persistent trend of a declining proportion of women being included in the candidate rosters of Political Parties signals a lack of progress in this area.
This circumstances have the potential to restrict women’s engagement in politics and May compel female candidates to opt for less favorable options.
Moreover, this dire circumstance serve as an early indication to the extent of Women’s involvement in the legislative body may potentially decrease to a level below 11% subsequent to the October 2023 elections unless immediate action is taken.
In light of this development, a gathering of over 50 national women- based Civil Society Organizations in Liberia was promptly organized to deliberate on the matter. The emergency meeting took place at the NEC conference Hall on Friday July 7,2023.
For these reasons and in light of the challenges expressed at the called meeting, we demand the following:
That all Political Parties which have signed the MOU and set voluntary quotas to uphold these commitments act on their commitments before the end of the candidate registration process which ends on Friday July 14, 2023.
That the political parties adopt Social protection policies for women desirous of running on their ticket and reduce the financial obligations associated with candidates’ nomination.
That the NEC develops monitoring tools to ensure political parties compliance with the existing laws in the absence of a mandatory law holding political parties accountable.
Women’s Political participation, representations and leadership remain cardinal to Liberia’s democracy and development.