Liberian NGOs Unite to Tackle Barriers to Women’s Leadership and Empowerment

Local Non-Governmental Organizations met last Thursday at the Lutheran Church Compound to discuss solutions to the barriers preventing women from ascending to leadership positions at local and national levels.

The discussion, organized under a joint engagement project, focused on strengthening collaboration and addressing gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and increasing women’s representation in political leadership at county and national levels. It also aimed to enhance women’s participation in leadership and peacebuilding efforts in Liberia.

The meeting was organized by the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), UN Women, the Government of Ireland International Development Programme, Kvinna Kvinna, and Sweden Sverige.

In her overview of the meeting, Berttee Forkpabio of WONGOSOL explained that the discussions centered on networking, building consensus, and strengthening the capacity of network members. Key topics included women’s rights, focusing on CEDAW protocols, the Local Government Act, and holding government officials accountable for implementing these laws effectively.

Madam Forkpabio emphasized that the gathering was also crucial for building national consensus and strengthening coordination for the “Minimum Women’s Bill” currently in the Legislature. She encouraged attendees to remain focused and to ask direct questions to foster solutions, rather than relying on hearsay.

Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye of the National Elections Commission added that it’s essential for men to participate in discussions on women’s issues so they can help amplify these concerns. She expressed hope that the discussion would positively impact women’s participation at all levels.

Veronica Songor of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia highlighted that the meeting would pave the way for future engagement. She noted that through this project, they had identified “champions” committed to finding long-term solutions.

Meanwhile, WONGOSOL Region One Coordinator Laura Targbeh Korvah stated that the focus is on identifying and overcoming barriers to women’s participation at all levels. She urged attendees to remain committed to the objectives of achieving greater representation for women across all sectors, both in government and private sectors.

Topics covered during the meeting included the Local Government Act, UNSCR 1325 (Pillar Two), Maputo Protocol Article 9, the status of bills promoting women’s rights and female participation, proposed changes to the elections law (Section 4.5), and strengthening coordination among women’s rights organizations to engage policymakers and stakeholders.