Published: July 16, 2025
MONROVIA – The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has commended the Government of Liberia for signing the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, describing the move as a significant step toward addressing the widespread abuse and discrimination faced by women and girls across the country.
AFELL called for the swift ratification, domestication, and full implementation of the treaty, which targets harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence.
“The signing of this Convention demonstrates Liberia’s intentional commitment to implementing both regional and international human rights instruments,” AFELL said in a statement issued Monday.
Call for Swift Legislative Action
Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley, First Vice President of AFELL, welcomed the signing as “timely,” but urged the government to move quickly toward ratification to ensure legal and policy reforms are enacted.
“Violence against women and girls in Liberia remains pervasive and cuts across all sectors, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds,” she said. “It manifests in many forms—physical, sexual, psychological, and economic—often committed by intimate partners or sanctioned by traditional and cultural norms.”
Cllr. Kelley emphasized that the AU Convention must serve as a catalyst for serious institutional and legal reforms. She noted that Liberia, as a responsible state party, has a duty to align national laws with the convention’s provisions to strengthen accountability and protection mechanisms.
“This is crucial because the instrument aims to address the root causes and drivers of violence, strengthen legal and institutional frameworks, and promote a culture of respect for human rights, gender equality, and the dignity of women and girls,” she said.
About AFELL
Founded and accredited on February 10, 1994, AFELL is a non-governmental, non-political organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of women, girls, and indigent persons in Liberia. The institution is guided by the principles of independence, impartiality, transparency, and accountability, and operates under the motto: “Equal Rights Under the Law.”
AFELL has long been an advocate for legal reforms and policy implementation to combat gender-based violence in Liberia. The association says that the signing of the AU Convention marks a critical opportunity for Liberia to reaffirm its international commitments and act decisively to protect vulnerable populations.
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