Monrovia – On Thursday, August 31, WARNOPTNET celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia. The event showcased the organization’s unwavering commitment to maintaining peace in Liberia, especially in the lead-up to the October 10th elections.
The celebration prominently featured the crucial role women have played in sustaining peace in the country, with a strong emphasis on their continued efforts as the elections draw near.
The event brought together women from various walks of life to reflect on the challenges they have faced in ensuring Liberia’s enduring tranquility. Prominent women leaders recounted the daunting and risky tasks they undertook to restore stability in the nation.
During her remarks at the anniversary celebration, former Foreign Affairs Minister and Chair of the Board of the Angie Brooks International Center, Olebanke King Akerele, urged women involved in peacebuilding to persist in their efforts for the country’s stability, just as their predecessors had.
“We owe our progress to those who came before us. While we are not obliged to complete the task of peace alone, we cannot abandon it, as the women of the Mano River Basin,” Madam Akerele emphasized.
She stressed that peace is contingent upon justice and the rule of law, underscoring that this standard must not be disregarded. Expressing her frustration at the handling of the trial of former Chief Justice of Liberia, Gloria Musu Scott, Madam Akerele deemed it “unnecessary” for someone who had contributed significantly to Liberia to be treated in such a manner. Nevertheless, she expressed hope that the rule of law would prevail in the trial.
Madam Akerele also voiced concerns about the security arrangements for the upcoming elections, expressing the hope that the elections would be conducted in a manner that would not push the country back into its dark days.
Constitutional Lawyer, Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull, highlighted that achieving the current state of peace was no easy feat but rather a coordinated effort, with some women even enduring the hardships of civil unrest. She emphasized the importance of preserving their contributions to the narrative of those who have struggled for peace.
Cllr. Bull stressed that women in leadership positions should emulate the likes of Ellen Johnson not only in promoting peace but also in advancing women’s agendas. She urged women not to blindly support candidates who do not meet the criteria of those who have stood up for causes in Liberia.
“We won’t endorse you if you don’t meet our criteria. We must scrutinize both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates,” Cllr. Bull asserted.
She emphasized that the peace championed by women should translate into improved livelihoods for citizens and a reduction in corruption in Liberia.
Providing an overview of the occasion, the National Focal Person and Acting Board Chair of MARWOPNET, Ophelia E. Hoff Saytumah, praised the unwavering dedication of women in Liberia in ensuring that the hard-fought peace remains strong. She emphasized that women continue to play a pivotal role in conflict resolution and their efforts should always be acknowledged.
Madam Saytumah expressed her delight in seeing Christian and Muslim women come together in unity to pray for the country during this 20th-anniversary celebration.
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