Published: July 19, 2025
CAPITOL HILL – House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has proposed the creation of special legislative seats exclusively for women and persons living with disabilities, calling on lawmakers to institutionalize the country’s most ambitious step yet toward equitable representation in the national legislature.
In a policy declaration Friday, Koon formally requested that any new legislative seats resulting from electoral redistricting be set aside for historically underrepresented groups. He directed the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Judiciary, and Good Governance to begin drafting a new electoral threshold aligned with the 2022 National Population and Housing Census — a prerequisite for redrawing district boundaries and potentially expanding legislative membership.
“As part of our effort to ensure inclusion and equitable representation, I propose that any new seats created, regardless of number, be exclusively reserved for women — with one seat set aside for persons living with disabilities,” Koon said in his closing statement for the second quarter of the Legislature’s second session.
While Liberia has enacted gender and inclusion provisions in policy and law, political representation for women and disabled citizens remains low. If enacted, the Speaker’s proposal would mark the first time in the country’s history that parliamentary seats are legally reserved for these groups.
The 2022 census, released by the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), offers updated demographic data that lawmakers are constitutionally required to use when adjusting electoral thresholds. That redistricting process, long delayed due to political and logistical challenges, is now expected to resume in earnest.
Liberia’s Legislature currently lacks any institutional quota for gender or disability representation. Although a few women hold legislative seats, their numbers fall far below regional targets, and persons with disabilities are almost entirely absent from national decision-making bodies.
The Speaker’s recommendation came as part of his broader assessment of legislative work during the past quarter. According to his report, the House held 19 regular sittings, three executive sessions, and two special sittings. Lawmakers passed 42 bills — including 19 originating from the House, 11 from the Executive, and 12 from the Senate — and ratified key agreements, such as a loan for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Project and Liberia’s adherence to the protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Koon also acknowledged that 36 bills remain under committee consideration, alongside four resolutions and one petition. He tasked legislative committees with maintaining momentum during the recess, stressing the importance of returning for the third quarter with substantial progress on pending legislation.
On financial and operational matters, Koon praised the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for the timely disbursement of funds to the Legislature, allowing it to execute its constitutional responsibilities without disruption.
He also reiterated the need for rigorous oversight, calling on the Committee on Public Accounts and Audit to continue public hearings and prepare detailed reports for plenary consideration.
“As representatives of the people, our work does not end with recess,” Koon said. “Let this be a time to consult deeply with our constituents — to listen, assess, and return better informed.”
In closing, the Speaker expressed gratitude to Liberia’s development partners, diplomatic allies, and religious leaders for supporting the country’s democratic consolidation in what he called a “sensitive post-election phase.” He credited their engagement for helping resolve recent political stalemates and for reinforcing the rule of law.
The Joint Legislative Committee tasked with evaluating Koon’s recommendation is expected to begin its work in the coming months.
If adopted, the reserved-seat model would place Liberia among a growing number of African countries implementing affirmative mechanisms to accelerate gender and disability inclusion.
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