Gbarnga, Bong County – The national leader of the Peace Hut Women of Liberia, Annie Nushaan, has told participants at a four-day strategic dialogue workshop held in Gbarnga, Bong County that the 2017 general and presidential elections is a critical moment for advancing women’s political leadership and ensuring that Liberia remains peaceful.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The Peace Hut Women of Liberia are community based networks of women peace builders who operate under a women friendly space known as Peace Huts.
Speaking at the close of the strategic dialogue, Nushaan said the Peace Hut Women of Liberia are mobilizing to engage community members, especially young people to prevent and manage conflicts during and after the elections.
According to Nushaan, the women of Liberia have sacrificed greatly for the peace of Liberia, emphasizing that this is the time to recognize their contributions and ensure that they actively participate in the electoral process, especially by voting more women in the Legislature.
She also called for increased support to the work of the Peace Hut Women of Liberia and highlighted the need for interventions in border communities across Liberia.
“At the borders communities our women are telling us that they experience different kinds of problems that we need to address.”
“It is also important that our women are part of monitoring peace along the border since they interact with citizens of the other countries daily,” Nushaan explained.
Nushaan, who heads the Totota Peace Hut in Bong County, made the remarks at the close of the four-day strategic dialogue and training workshop which was supported by the Kingdom of Sweden through UN Women.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Peterson Magoola, has reaffirmed UN Women’s support to efforts by the Peace Hut Women of Liberia focused on peace-building, women’s leadership and women’s economic empowerment at the community level.
Magoola said the work of the Peace Hut Women of Liberia is internationally recognized and urged the women to do more to take ownership of Liberia’s peace and stability, amidst the transition of the United Nations Mission of Liberia (UNMIL).
“You women have shown to the world that you have power to contribute to a peaceful and democratic society and I have no doubt that with your collective efforts Liberia will remain peaceful even beyond the transition of UNMIL,” the UN Women Deputy Country Representative said.
Speaking on behalf of the superintendent of Bong County, Mr. Joseph Urey said the county’s administration is concerned about maintaining the peace Liberia enjoys, crediting it to the work of women since 2003.
Mr. Urey said women have not remained silent but have stood up whenever the peace of Liberia is threatened and assure that the Bong County administration is with them.
Mr. Urey encouraged the Peace Hut Women of Liberia to expand their network and incorporate other influential women at the community level to reach out to more people with the message of peace.