Tubmanburg, Bomi County – Suggestions by the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) on strengthening women’s engagement to enhance information dissemination, partnership and harmony have begun gaining steam as the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Caucus and the civil society organizations hosted a three-day dialogue retreat with women of Liberia.
The beginning of the dialogue which brought together several women and women groups of Liberia convened under the theme “In Union Strong Success is Sure: Women No Turning Back” at a three-day women dialogue retreat in Tubmanburg, Bomi County from October 5 and 7, 2018.
At the retreat, out of which a resolution was drawn, the Liberian women discussed the current priorities of the national women agenda and legislations concerning gender responsive bills; some of which are still lingering at the Legislature.
Some of the gender responsive bills that emerged under the discussions were the Affirmative Action/ women quotas; Domestic Violence/Female Genital Mutilation; Rape Law; Women’s Land Rights (popularization and utility); Local Government Act; Legal Aid Law as well as the National Gender Policy and Action Plans.
The main aim of the retreat was to build partnership and solidarity and strategically engage other women in mobilizing for inclusive participation in national, local politics and development priorities.
Bomi County Inspector, J. Edwin Gould, welcomed the women and emphasized that women cannot stand without the support of men thereby advising women to put more effort at strengthening advocacy in policy making.
He applauded the women, who participated in ensuring that their voices are heard on the issues that plague them as this would go a long way to influence the decisions of the government and lawmakers so that together they look into these issues and find a remedy to solving them.
UN Women Country Director Marie N. Goreth commended the Ministry for organizing such program in bringing women from various sectors to discuss their agenda as she emphasized that the UN Women will give more priorities to women issues by working with the government to solve those issues.
Madam Goreth admonished the women to support each other as they are the custodians of their own stories by developing their profiles. She also encouraged the rural and market women to be involved in agricultural activities promising that the UN Women will involve more rural women and support them in accessing markets.
The UN Women boss further emphasized on women’s political participation; pointing out that UN Women is working towards involving more women in politics and that her organization will continue to support other partners in solving the issues of Liberian women.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the National Civil Society of Liberia, Frances Deigha Greeves, presented a resolution in the form of short and long term recommendations from the women of Liberia to the government of Liberia through the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Williametta Saydee-Tarr at the close of the dialogue retreat. Receiving the resolution, Minister Saydee-Tarr appreciated the participants and urged them to continue working in collaboration with the Ministry in order to ensure a steadfast commitment while at the same time she urged the women to push forward and support each other noting that the government alone cannot find remedy to all the issues that plague the women of Liberia.