MONROVIA — Madam Esther David Yango, Executive Director of the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), has called on the Government of Liberia(GoL) to take concrete steps to address the challenges facing rural women, warning that despite their contributions to food production, local economies, and community peacebuilding, many continue to face barriers to economic opportunities and meaningful participation in decision-making.

By Patience M. Jones,patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

Her call comes as Liberia joins the world in observing the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, a day dedicated to recognizing rural women’s contributions and drawing attention to the challenges they face.

Across Liberia, rural women help feed families, sustain local economies, and resolve community conflicts. Yet many continue to struggle with limited access to land, financing, education, healthcare, technology, and leadership opportunities.

From farming and trading in local markets to caring for families and mediating community disputes, rural women play a critical role in the country’s economic and social development. Their contributions also extend to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and efforts to strengthen relationships within communities.

Despite these responsibilities, many rural women face barriers that limit their ability to expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their communities.

The observance provides an opportunity for the government, development partners, civil society organizations, and traditional leaders to move beyond celebrating rural women and take practical steps to address the challenges they face.

Rural Women at the Center of Peacebuilding

Beyond their economic contributions, rural women play an important role in maintaining peace and social cohesion across Liberia.

In communities throughout the country, women help resolve disputes, encourage dialogue, rebuild relationships, and bring people together across social and cultural divisions.

Their involvement in community peacebuilding demonstrates that sustainable peace requires more than formal agreements and government initiatives. It also depends on the participation of people who understand the challenges facing their communities and work daily to address them.

Rural women also support survivors of violence and contribute to efforts to prevent violence against women and girls. Through community networks and local leadership structures, they help create spaces where difficult issues can be discussed and conflicts addressed.

However, their contributions to peacebuilding must be matched by meaningful participation in decision-making, particularly in processes concerning local development, security, land rights, and reconciliation.

Recognizing women as peacebuilders means ensuring that they are not merely invited to meetings but are given opportunities to influence decisions and shape policies affecting their lives.

Limited Access to Resources Remains a Challenge

Despite their role in sustaining households and communities, rural women continue to face significant economic and social challenges.

Limited access to land, financial services, markets, education, healthcare, and technology can make it difficult for women to improve agricultural production, establish businesses, and achieve financial independence.

These barriers can also affect their ability to support their children’s education, access essential services, and contribute more effectively to local economic development.

For women who depend on farming and small-scale trading, access to affordable financing, agricultural tools, reliable markets, and skills training can make the difference between struggling to survive and building sustainable livelihoods.

Addressing these challenges requires deliberate investment in rural communities, policies that protect women’s rights, and programs that provide women with the resources needed to improve their economic circumstances.

Calls for Greater Government Commitment

As the International Day of Rural Women is observed, the Government of Liberia and its development partners are being urged to strengthen support for rural women by improving their access to economic opportunities, essential services, and leadership positions.

Civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders also have a role to play in ensuring that rural women are included in development planning and community decision-making.

Support must extend beyond public recognition to practical interventions that improve women’s access to land, credit, education, healthcare, agricultural resources, and markets.

Equally important is the need to protect rural women’s rights, strengthen their participation in peacebuilding, and create opportunities for them to lead community development initiatives.

Investing in rural women can produce wider benefits for Liberia. When women have the resources to increase their income and improve agricultural production, households can become more financially secure, communities can become more resilient, and food security can improve.

Their participation in peacebuilding and local governance can also strengthen social cohesion and promote more inclusive development.

Empowering Rural Women Is Essential to Liberia’s Future

The International Day of Rural Women is observed annually on October 15 to recognize rural women’s contributions and highlight the challenges they face.

For Liberia, the observance is a reminder that the country’s development cannot be separated from the well-being and empowerment of the women who sustain rural households, contribute to food production, and help maintain peace within their communities.

Rural women should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of development programs. They are farmers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, community leaders, and peacebuilders whose knowledge and experience are essential to national progress.

Ensuring that they have access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making spaces is not simply a matter of recognition; it is an investment in Liberia’s economic growth, social stability, and long-term development.

As the country marks the day, the challenge is to translate recognition into action by protecting rural women’s rights, investing in their livelihoods, amplifying their voices, and ensuring their meaningful participation in decisions affecting their future.

When rural women thrive, Liberia thrives. When rural women lead, peace grows. And when rural women are empowered, Liberia moves closer to a more inclusive and prosperous future.

MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has launched a five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening gender equality, child protection, and social protection services, with Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie warning that inadequate resources, weak coordination, and limited institutional capacity could undermine its implementation.

By Patience M. Jones,patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

The Strategic Plan 2026–2030 was officially launched Wednesday at the Ballroom of the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, bringing together government officials, development partners, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, women’s groups, and other stakeholders.

The plan establishes a framework for strengthening the Ministry’s institutional capacity, improving service delivery, promoting social inclusion, and expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations.

Delivering special remarks at the launch, Horace-Kollie emphasized that the plan’s success would depend not on its stated ambitions alone, but on the government’s ability to mobilize resources, coordinate institutions, and translate policy priorities into measurable outcomes.

She cautioned that even a comprehensive strategic plan could fail without adequate financing, sustained political commitment, effective partnerships, and the institutional capacity necessary to implement its objectives.

“No strategic plan, regardless of how comprehensive or ambitious, can succeed without adequate resources, effective coordination, sustained political commitment, and the institutional capacity required to translate priorities into tangible results,” the Minister emphasized.

MINISTRY SEEKS SHIFT FROM FRAGMENTED INTERVENTIONS

Horace-Kollie said the new framework is intended to move the Ministry beyond fragmented interventions toward a coordinated, integrated, and results-driven approach that aligns national priorities, institutional responsibilities, available resources, and measurable performance outcomes.

The plan prioritizes women and girls, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and vulnerable households, with a focus on strengthening protection systems, expanding social inclusion, and improving access to essential social protection services.

According to the Minister, the framework will also guide policy implementation, deepen collaboration among government institutions and development partners, and reinforce accountability across the Ministry’s areas of responsibility.

She stressed that implementation must be supported by strategic investment and collective action from government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

“Implementation requires more than goodwill; it demands strategic investment, strong partnerships, and the collective determination to turn our priorities into practical outcomes,” Horace-Kollie said.

The Minister maintained that the plan’s ultimate value would be determined by its impact on the lives of the people it is intended to serve.

She said women must experience greater protection and economic opportunities, children must benefit from stronger safeguarding systems, survivors must gain improved access to timely and dignified services, and vulnerable individuals and families must receive more responsive social protection.

“This is the promise of our Strategic Plan, and it is the standard against which its success must ultimately be measured,” she stated.

CIVIL SERVICE AGENCY PLEDGES SUPPORT

For his part, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and chief launcher of the strategic plan, commended the Ministry for reaching what he described as an important milestone in strengthening institutional effectiveness and advancing its national mandate.

Joekai reaffirmed the CSA’s commitment to working with the Ministry to prioritize staff welfare, strengthen institutional capacity, and support the implementation of the plan’s objectives.

He emphasized the importance of investing in the public servants responsible for delivering government services, noting that a motivated, adequately supported, and capable workforce is essential to effective institutional performance.

The CSA’s pledge comes as the Ministry seeks to strengthen its internal systems and improve its ability to deliver services to vulnerable populations throughout Liberia.

GOVERNMENT, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS URGED TO BACK IMPLEMENTATION

Horace-Kollie expressed gratitude to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the confidence placed in the Ministry and for his administration’s commitment to mobilizing resources in support of national development priorities.

She also acknowledged the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for its role in resource mobilization and fiscal coordination, emphasizing that financial support would be essential to translating the plan’s priorities into practical results.

The Minister further recognized development partners and other stakeholders for their technical assistance, collaboration, and investments in strengthening the Ministry’s institutional capacity.

The launch was attended by representatives of civil society organizations, local and international development partners, the United Nations system, and government ministries and agencies, including their Gender and Social Inclusion Coordinators.

Their participation reflects the importance of coordinated partnerships in advancing the plan’s objectives.

IMPLEMENTATION WILL DETERMINE THE PLAN’S LEGACY

The Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Strategic Plan 2026–2030, with priorities including stronger institutional performance, improved service delivery, gender equality, child protection, and expanded social protection for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

However, the plan’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on whether its commitments are matched by adequate budgetary allocations, clear implementation responsibilities, measurable targets, and sustained monitoring of results.

For women and girls facing violence and discrimination, children requiring protection, survivors seeking support, and vulnerable households struggling to access essential services, the central question is whether the new framework will produce tangible improvements in their daily lives.

As the Ministry begins the five-year implementation period, the challenge will be to ensure that its strategic commitments translate into accessible services, stronger protection mechanisms, and greater accountability to the Liberian people.

Monrovia – The Feminist Coalition (FCP), with medica Liberia (mL) serving as the lead representative, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Liberia to support the comprehensive review and revision of the Ministry’s Gender Policy.

The collaboration is being undertaken under the Stronger Together – A Gender Transformative Action Coalition Project and brings together five feminist and women’s rights organizations: medica Liberia, Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Sisters4Sisters Liberia, Radical Young Women Movement in Liberia (RAYWOM), and Liberia Feminist Forum (LFF).

The MOU was signed on behalf of Cllr. Yah V. Parwon, Country Director of medica Liberia, on behalf of the Feminist Coalition, and Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., Acting Minister of National Defense, representing the Ministry.

The partnership seeks to ensure that Liberia’s defense and security institutions have a strengthened, practical, and gender-responsive policy framework that reflects current institutional realities and Liberia’s commitments to gender equality, women’s participation in peace and security, human rights, and inclusive governance.

Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate on a comprehensive review of the existing Gender Policy, stakeholder consultations, data collection and analysis, drafting of a revised Gender Policy and Action Plan, and internal and external validation of the revised documents.

The process will also provide an opportunity to identify emerging gender-related challenges and strengthen institutional approaches to women’s participation and leadership, equal opportunity, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), safeguarding, accountability, and gender-responsive planning and budgeting within the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Liberia.

Speaking on behalf of Cllr. Yah V. Parwon, Country Director of medica Liberia, Fenny Taylor-Diggs, Project Manager, emphasized the importance of feminist and civil society engagement in strengthening institutional policies and practices.

“This partnership represents an important opportunity to bring feminist perspectives, technical expertise, and lived realities into a policy process that directly affects Liberia’s defense and security institutions. We look forward to working with the Ministry of National Defense to ensure that the revised policy is practical, inclusive, and responsive to the realities of women and men within the defense sector.”

Delivering remarks at the signing on behalf of Cllr. Parwon and the Feminist Coalition, Fenny Taylor-Diggs, Project Manager, described the occasion as a monumental moment for the Coalition.

“We are not simply signing an MOU today. We are formalizing an opportunity to work alongside the Ministry of National Defense to contribute to shaping the direction of gender within the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Liberia in the years ahead. Policies are not simply documents that sit on a shelf. Policies shape institutions. They influence priorities, guide decision-making, inform budgets and resource allocation, and ultimately determine how commitments are translated into action.”

For his part, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., Acting Minister of National Defense, said the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Liberia are committed to ensuring that women have equal opportunity to serve.

“Gender equality is something that we do not take for granted. As a force for good, the Armed Forces of Liberia strive to ensure that women have equal opportunity as men to participate in the defense of our country, because women are equally able and capable as men. With this MOU, we want to look at our existing National Defense Gender Policy and see whether it meets the needs of present-day reality: where it needs to be strengthened, where it needs to be amended, and what additional things it must incorporate. You can write the most beautiful thing on paper, but you have to implement it. So the policy must be crafted in a way that is realistic and can be implemented.”

The Acting Minister pledged the Ministry’s full backing for the process: “The Ministry of National Defense gives its total support to this process. All assistance that will be required from our side will be made available, and our team will work fully with you to review and revise our gender policy, and thereafter implement it to the letter.”

The Ministry of National Defense will lead and coordinate stakeholder consultations and facilitate access to relevant policy and institutional information. The Ministry will also lead the drafting and validation processes, while medica Liberia, representing the Feminist Coalition, will provide technical support, contribute to the policy review and drafting process, and coordinate with other members of the Coalition to ensure that relevant feminist and gender perspectives are reflected throughout the process.

The collaboration will be guided by a Joint Steering Committee, comprising representatives designated by both parties, to provide strategic oversight, review progress, address implementation challenges, and support coordination throughout the four-month implementation period.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening institutional systems that promote gender equality, professionalism, accountability, inclusion, and meaningful participation in peace and security.

The Feminist Coalition and the Ministry of National Defense believe that effective gender-responsive policies are essential to building institutions that are more representative, accountable, and responsive to the people they serve.

About the Feminist Coalition

The Feminist Coalition (FCP) is a consortium of five feminist and women’s rights organizations, medica Liberia (mL), Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Sisters4Sisters Liberia (S4S), Radical Young Women Movement in Liberia (RAYWOM), and Liberia Feminist Forum (LFF), working collectively to strengthen Liberia’s women’s movement and influence structural, political, and social change toward greater gender equality and justice.

About medica Liberia

medica Liberia is a feminist organization working to advance women’s rights and contribute to the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence in Liberia through advocacy, survivor-centered programming, institutional strengthening, and gender-transformative approaches.

MONROVIA — Gender advocates are calling for the introduction and publication of a gender inclusion scorecard to measure the performance of ministries, agencies and commissions, amid concerns that some government institutions are failing to comply with Liberia’s National Gender Policy.

By Sampat JMB Kpakimah, contributing writer

The proposed scorecard would provide a mechanism for assessing how government institutions are implementing gender-inclusion commitments, identifying gaps and holding institutional leaders accountable for progress in promoting women’s participation in governance and decision-making.

The call was made during a day-long Sector Coordination Meeting held in Monrovia, a regular forum bringing together representatives of government ministries, agencies and commissions to provide updates and reports on gender-related activities.

The meeting was also intended to strengthen coordination among government institutions and promote a more holistic approach to gender equality and development outcomes.

The push comes after President Joseph Boakai endorsed the National Gender Policy and the inclusion of gender considerations across government institutions under the administration’s ARREST Agenda.

However, participants at the meeting raised concerns about what they described as gaps between government’s policy commitments and implementation within some institutions.

Some participants alleged that women and gender focal persons are excluded from managerial meetings and are sometimes engaged primarily when institutions need gender-related data for reporting to development partners.

Agatha Thompson-Venn, Gender Specialist and Communications Director at the Ministry of Information, said some government institutions are not giving gender issues the attention they deserve.

She called for the publication of institutional scorecards to make the performance of ministries, agencies and commissions on gender inclusion more visible.

According to Thompson-Venn, publicly reporting the scorecards would create greater accountability for officials responsible for implementing the policy.

She said the approach could also identify institutions that are falling short of their gender commitments and encourage corrective action.

Some Institutions Cited for Progress

Thompson-Venn cited the Civil Service Agency and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as institutions that have demonstrated efforts toward gender inclusion, urging other government entities to adopt similar practices.

The proposed scorecard would allow institutions to measure their performance against established gender-inclusion standards and identify areas requiring improvement.

Assistant Minister Olivia Swen also urged women to take advantage of opportunities that allow them to participate in meetings and decision-making processes.

Swen said women who are empowered and actively involved in decision-making are better positioned to speak confidently and advocate for issues affecting their communities.

She encouraged women to be proactive in seeking opportunities rather than waiting to be invited.

“Women must seek opportunities to participate,” she stressed, emphasizing that representation in decision-making spaces is essential to ensuring that women’s concerns are reflected in government policies and programs.

Calls for Broader Institutional Reform

In closing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Research, Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dorley, called for stronger institutional reforms and improved coordination among government institutions to address governance and policy challenges.

Dorley emphasized that government institutions must work together rather than address national issues in isolation.

He said effective governance requires collaboration across ministries, agencies and sectors, particularly on issues that cut across institutional mandates.

According to Dorley, recommendations emerging from the ongoing discussions are expected to be submitted to President Boakai and relevant government institutions for consideration.

He also stressed the importance of reviewing existing policies and regulations to ensure they reflect current realities and contribute to meaningful institutional reform.

Dorley further called for continued dialogue among government institutions, civil society and other stakeholders, saying reforms should be informed by evidence, proper assessment and the experiences of institutions and citizens across Liberia.

The proposed gender inclusion scorecard is expected to form part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure that gender commitments translate from policy documents into measurable action across government.

MONROVIA — The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, has challenged stakeholders implementing a new US$3 million women’s peacebuilding initiative to move beyond workshops and activities and demonstrate tangible changes in the lives of women, survivors and communities.

By  Patience M. Jones 

Minister Kollie made the call during the launch of the Gender Promotion Initiative (GPI) 2.0, a three-year programme designed to strengthen women’s leadership, justice and inclusive peacebuilding across five Liberian counties.

“The true measure of this project should not be the number of meetings we hold or activities we complete. It must be the change that women, survivors, young people, and communities can see and feel in their lives,” Minister Kollie said.

Her challenge places the focus of the initiative on outcomes rather than activities, as Liberia seeks to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding, accountability and decision-making.

The programme, launched in Monrovia on September 14 is funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and led by UN Women in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Liberia, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Kvinna till Kvinna.

It will be implemented in Montserrado, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Grand Cape Mount Counties, with more than 40 percent of programme resources earmarked for women’s rights organizations through sub-grants.

For Minister Kollie, the initiative presents an opportunity to ensure that women who have long played informal roles in resolving community disputes and supporting survivors are given greater resources and influence to shape decisions affecting their communities.

The programme will support women’s rights organizations, peace huts and other community-based structures while strengthening gender-responsive institutions and creating stronger links between government, civil society and communities.

It will also support mediation, conflict prevention, reconciliation, negotiation, organizational development, resource mobilization, peer support and intergenerational dialogue.

UN Women Deputy Country Representative Yemi Falayajo said the initiative seeks to move the conversation beyond simply counting women as participants in peacebuilding processes.

She said the objective is to ensure women have the capacity, resources and space to influence decisions and shape peacebuilding outcomes.

The initiative also comes at a time when Liberia is advancing discussions around transitional justice, accountability and the establishment of mechanisms intended to address the country’s violent past.

OHCHR Liberia is expected to provide technical expertise on human rights, justice, accountability, legal frameworks and transitional justice, while government institutions and civil society actors will be engaged in strengthening coordination and community-level interventions.

UN Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni emphasized the need to recognize women not only as victims and survivors of conflict, but also as leaders, decision-makers and agents of change.

She said women remain indispensable partners in Liberia’s efforts toward accountability, healing, reconciliation and sustainable peace.

For Minister Kollie, however, the ultimate test of the initiative will be what happens beyond the launch ceremonies, training sessions and policy discussions.

Her message is clear: the success of GPI 2.0 will ultimately be measured by whether women and communities experience meaningful changes in their daily lives.

As the three-year initiative gets underway, stakeholders are therefore being challenged to ensure that the millions committed to women’s leadership and peacebuilding translate into stronger voices, greater access to justice, improved protection and real decision-making power for women across Liberia.

Monrovia – The Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) will convene a one-day National Media Roundtable on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and build stronger working relationships between women legislators and media institutions across Liberia.

The roundtable will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room of the Honorable House of Representatives in Monrovia.

The Media Roundtable is intended to create a platform for open dialogue between women legislators and media practitioners, improve media understanding of the mandate and work of the WLCL, and promote regular, accurate, balanced, and gender-sensitive reporting on women’s legislative leadership and contributions to national development.

The activity is being led by the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, with support from UN Women Liberia The activity forms part of the project, Women Legislators in Liberia: Promoting Voice, Leadership, and Gender-Responsive Governance for Sustainable Development. The IBSA Fund supports the project with contributions from the Governments of India, Brazil and South Africa. The United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation administers the Fund.

The Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) serves as a unified platform for women legislators in the Honorable House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate, working to promote gender-responsive legislation, women’s political participation, and policies that improve the lives of women, girls, and vulnerable populations.

Despite the Caucus’ active engagement in legislative oversight, advocacy, constituency outreach, and policy reforms, many of its achievements, interventions, and contributions receive limited media attention. This has contributed to gaps in public awareness regarding the role and impact of women legislators in Liberia’s national development process.

Recognizing the strategic role of the media in informing the public, promoting accountability, and shaping national discourse, the WLCL is convening the Media Roundtable to foster stronger and more sustained collaboration with media institutions.

The engagement will provide an avenue for open dialogue, mutual understanding, improved access to legislative information, and stronger professional relationships between women lawmakers and journalists. It will also encourage balanced, consistent, accurate, and gender-sensitive reporting on the work of women legislators and issues affecting women and girls.

The WLCL believes that a stronger partnership with the media is essential to ensuring that citizens are better informed about legislative processes, policy initiatives, advocacy efforts, and the contributions of women lawmakers to Liberia’s democratic governance and development.

The national media roundtable will be followed by county-level media engagements led by each of the 11 WLCL legislators within their respective constituencies providing opportunities for women lawmakers to interact directly with local media practitioners and strengthen sustained communication at the county level.

MONROVIA — For years, Liberian women have carried the wounds of war into their homes and communities while simultaneously becoming some of the country’s strongest voices for peace, reconciliation and survival.

By Patience M. Jones

Now, as Liberia moves toward transitional justice and the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court, the United Nations is warning that the country’s journey toward healing cannot be complete if women remain on the sidelines of decisions about justice, accountability and peace.

That message took center stage Tuesday, September 15 as UN Women, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Liberia, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Kvinna till Kvinna, officially rolled out the Gender Promotion Initiative 2.0 (GPI 2.0).

Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, the three-year initiative represents a US$3 million investment aimed at strengthening women’s leadership, access to justice, transitional justice participation and inclusive peacebuilding across Liberia.

The programme will run from April 2026 to April 2029, with activities implemented nationally and in five priority counties — Montserrado, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Grand Cape Mount.

But beyond the figures and programme activities lies a deeper question: How does a country heal from the scars of war if the women who helped end the conflict are not given an equal voice in deciding what justice and healing should look like?

For UN officials, the answer is clear.

“We must not take women only as victims but also women as actors,” UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia Christine N. Umutoni said, stressing that women must contribute to every aspect of Liberia’s transitional justice process.

Umutoni said Liberia’s peace should not be taken for granted, noting that the country’s relative stability was achieved through sustained efforts and must continue to be protected.

She said women’s participation is particularly important as Liberia advances the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and other accountability mechanisms.

The GPI 2.0, she explained, therefore comes at a critical moment  – one in which women must be recognized not merely as survivors of conflict, but as decision-makers, peacebuilders and partners in shaping Liberia’s future.

From Surviving War to Shaping Justice

For many Liberians, the legacy of the civil war is not confined to history books.

Its consequences remain visible in broken families, lost opportunities, unresolved trauma and communities still struggling to reconcile with the past.

Yet women were among those who stood at the forefront of Liberia’s peace movement.

OHCHR Liberia Country Representative and Chief of Office Christian Mukosa reminded participants that Liberia’s women already had a voice long before the GPI 2.0.

He challenged the programme’s theme, “Strengthen Her Voice,” suggesting that the country should perhaps be talking about strengthening and sustaining a voice that women have already demonstrated through decades of peacebuilding.

“Liberian women helped bring an end to the conflict,” Mukosa said, pointing to their continued contributions through advocacy, mediation, reconciliation, peace huts and community leadership.

For him, the task now is not to create that voice, but to ensure that it remains strong enough to influence the institutions and processes responsible for justice and peace.

He described peace as something that cannot be imported or outsourced.

“Peace cannot be outsourced,” Mukosa emphasized, arguing that sustainable peace can only be achieved when the people themselves lead, own and sustain it.

His message was particularly strong on transitional justice.

As Liberia prepares to confront allegations of past human rights violations and pursue accountability, he warned that a justice process that ignores gender could leave serious violations inadequately addressed and weaken public confidence in justice institutions.

“Everything must have a gender lens,” he stressed, saying gender responsiveness must be reflected in policy, institutional arrangements, investigations, prosecutions, reparations, outreach and data collection.

For Mukosa, justice is not simply about punishment.

It is also about healing, restoring trust and preventing the recurrence of violence.

A Programme Built Around Women at the Grassroots

UN Women Country Representative Abul Monjurul Kabir said GPI 2.0 is designed to strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peacebuilding by expanding women’s access to justice and their participation in decision-making.

The programme has three major pathways.

First, it will strengthen Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), including peace huts and women’s networks that have long worked at the community level.

Second, it will support institutions to become more gender-responsive through stronger planning, budgeting, accountability, monitoring, data collection and evidence-based decision-making.

Third, it will strengthen connections among government, civil society and communities through dialogue, partnerships and community engagement.

A significant portion of the programme’s resources will go directly to women’s organizations.

More than 40 percent of programme resources will be channelled to WROs through sub-grants, supporting their institutional capacity, advocacy, mediation, conflict prevention, reconciliation, negotiation, project management and resource mobilization.

Kabir said this approach recognizes that sustainable peace is built from the grassroots.

Women’s organizations, he noted, already possess the trust, knowledge and community networks needed to help prevent conflict, mediate disputes and rebuild relationships.

The programme will also support community dialogues on gender equality and transitional justice, nationwide awareness campaigns, survivor networks, early-warning mechanisms, exchange visits and the revitalization of gender coordination platforms.

Healing Must Reach Beyond Monrovia

The decision to prioritize five counties is also significant.

For years, many national conversations about justice, governance and development have been concentrated in Monrovia, even though the effects of conflict were experienced across Liberia.

GPI 2.0 seeks to take the conversation beyond the capital.

Kabir said justice and peacebuilding processes must be accessible to women and communities outside Monrovia and must reflect the different realities they face.

That means a woman in Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh or Grand Cape Mount should not simply hear about transitional justice through national media.

She should understand what justice means, what her rights are, where she can seek assistance and how she can participate in shaping the process.

The Ministry of Justice, represented at the ceremony, similarly emphasized that transitional justice must be victim-centered, gender-responsive, inclusive and accessible.

Speaking on behalf of  Acting  Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. Betsey M. Blamo, the Ministry’s representative said women must move beyond being beneficiaries of justice and become active participants, advocates, leaders and decision-makers.

The Ministry also called for greater legal awareness so women and girls can understand their rights and the justice mechanisms available to them, including the War and Economic Crimes Court.

A Chance to Turn Pain Into Healing

The GPI 2.0 arrives as Liberia prepares to implement its National Action Plan III on Women, Peace and Security, creating an opportunity to move from policy commitments to practical action.

Its broader ambition is not simply to increase the number of women attending meetings.

The goal is to ensure women have enough influence to shape the decisions made in those rooms.

Kabir described the programme’s desired transformation as a shift from women’s participation to women’s meaningful leadership.

Women, he said, should not merely participate “in numbers,” but should be part of the decision-making that determines Liberia’s peacebuilding future.

That distinction is particularly important for a country where women have historically been at the center of peace efforts but have often struggled to secure equal representation in formal political and justice structures.

For Mukosa, Liberia’s history provides evidence that women’s leadership works.

He recalled seeing Liberian women mobilize during elections through situation rooms and community discussions to discourage violence and protect peace.

He also pointed to the experience of his own country, saying the sustained involvement and capacity of women can help societies recover from deep crises.

Liberia, he argued, is itself another example.

Three Million Dollars, Three Years — But What Will Change?

With US$3 million committed over three years, the initiative is relatively modest compared with the scale of Liberia’s peacebuilding and justice needs.

Mukosa acknowledged this, but argued that the investment can make a significant difference if resources are used responsibly.

He urged transparency, strong monitoring, gender-sensitive engagement and regular feedback from women and communities.

For him, the true measure of success should not be the number of workshops conducted or meetings held.

It should be whether women’s organizations become stronger, institutions become more responsive, women gain meaningful influence in decision-making, and citizens develop greater trust in justice and peacebuilding processes.

That is where the healing component of GPI 2.0 becomes most important.

Because healing is not simply forgetting the past.

It is creating a system where survivors can seek justice with dignity, communities can confront painful histories, women can tell their stories without being silenced, and institutions can respond in ways that prevent yesterday’s violence from becoming tomorrow’s reality.

The Ministry of Justice called for a Liberia where survivors can seek justice with dignity, rights are protected and accountability contributes to lasting peace and national healing.

Umutoni similarly urged partners to treat the rollout as the beginning of a shared accountability process.

She called on stakeholders to listen to women in all their diversity, protect the space for their leadership and ensure their priorities shape the institutions and processes that will define Liberia’s future.

The Voice That Must Not Be Silenced

The message from the launch was ultimately simple: Liberia has already witnessed what women can do for peace.

The challenge now is to ensure their contribution does not end with peace agreements, elections or community mediation.

As Liberia confronts its past and prepares for transitional justice, women must have a seat where the difficult decisions about accountability, reparations, reconciliation and national healing are made.

Because the women who carried families through war, mediated community disputes, advocated for peace and helped rebuild communities are not merely witnesses to Liberia’s history.

They are part of the country’s healing story – and increasingly, they are being called upon to help write its next chapter.

Summary

• Charlyne Brumskine is one of five judges selected for the prestigious role serving on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice, which hears cases against regional governments, from 2026 to 2030.
• The lawyer, who brings more than 23 years of legal experience to the court, is the first Liberian woman to serve in that role.
• Brumskine says she wants more West Africans to understand and have access to the Court, including through proceedings outside its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

By Joyclyn Wea, gender correspondent with New Narratives

When Charlyne Brumskine learned she had been selected to the coveted post as a judge on the Ecowas Community Court of Justice, her thoughts turned to her late father.

Charles Walker Brumskine, the prominent lawyer and three-time presidential candidate who died in 2019, had hoped to serve as vice president of the Economic Community of West African States Commission himself, his daughter said.

“My father did not get it. You can imagine how proud I feel to have been able to achieve that,” Brumskine said.

Brumskine is one of five judges selected to serve on the regional court from 2026 to 2030, alongside judges from Nigeria, The Gambia, Togo and Benin. The Court’s bench rotates among Economic Community of West African States member states every four years.

Brumskine is not the first Liberian to serve on the Court. Liberian judges Micah Wilkins Wright and Yussif D. Kaba previously served on the bench. But she is the first Liberian woman.

“Is a privilege that I do not take lightly,” Brumskine said. “I am continuing the legacy of Liberian women who came before me, those who plaited the mat on which I sit. But I am also a forebearer of those who will come after me. I am simply keeping the seat warm for them and providing a blueprint of how Liberian women must represent our country with dignity, excellence, and purpose.”

Based in Abuja, Nigeria, the Community Court of Justice is the judicial arm of the Economic Community of West African States. It interprets regional laws and treaties, settles disputes involving member states and Economic Community of West African States institutions, and hears human rights cases.

Its human rights jurisdiction gives the Court particular importance to ordinary citizens. Individuals can bring qualifying human rights complaints directly before it without first exhausting all remedies in their national courts.

One recent example saw a group of survivors of the 1990 St. Peter’s Lutheran Church massacre, in which up to 600 people were killed by Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers, sue the Liberian government, accusing successive administrations of failing to investigate and prosecute those responsible. But in October 2024, the court threw out the case, ruling it lacked jurisdiction because the violations fell before the court’s human rights mandate existed.

Brumskine said about 90 percent of the Court’s cases concern human rights, covering issues ranging from human trafficking and unlawful detention to freedom of expression and due process.

Liberians have used the Court in other cases. Kabineh Ja’neh, the former Supreme Court associate justice, challenged his impeachment there in 2020. The Court ruled in his favor, finding the government had violated his right to a fair hearing and ordering the government to pay him compensation and restore certain rights. Liberia later sought a review, but the Court rejected the application and ordered compliance with its original judgment.

In another recent case, the Court in July 2025 dismissed an application involving Abrahim Sheriff, raised in Guinea but claimed to be of Liberian origin, who brought a case against Liberia and Guinea at the Court, alleging both governments unlawfully arrested and detained him on unfounded claims of armed insurrection and mercenary activity, subjecting him to torture and enforced disappearance and confiscating $180,000. 

Those cases, Brumskine said, demonstrate the breadth of issues that can reach the regional bench. But she said she hopes that Liberians will not have to go there.

“I hope that our government, our judicial system, affords our citizens the opportunity to fundamental rights so that no one appears before me or before any of the justices from Liberia,” she said.

Despite several landmark human rights rulings, the Court faces mounting criticism over poor compliance by member states, with enforcement of its binding judgments remaining one of its toughest challenges since it began operations in 2001. That weakness was on display in the Lutheran Church massacre case, where the court’s narrow reading of its jurisdiction let the Liberian government avoid accountability.

The Court’s independence is also being tested by politically sensitive cases, including a suit by Ghana’s suspended and later dismissed Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, who is seeking $10 million in damages over her removal. Most recently, the court has been drawn into regional migration politics, hearing a case accusing Ghana of unlawfully detaining and deporting refugees transferred from the US under a secret deportation agreement — the first case filed under the 1979 ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.

Brumskine comes to the Court with more than 23 years of legal experience. She has also been active in politics and was Alexander Cummings’ running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

During the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration, Brumskine worked with the Ministry of Justice on Liberia’s anti-human trafficking framework and with the Ministry of Commerce as Liberia negotiated accession to the World Trade Organization. During the George Weah administration, her law firm served as external counsel to the Central Bank of Liberia.

She is founder of CMB Law Group and has taught at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and the Liberian School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Liberia, New York and Washington, D.C., and has worked across private practice, public policy and international negotiations.

That background differs from Economic Community of West African States judges who often reach the regional bench after careers in national judiciaries. But previous service as a judge was not required. Candidates could qualify with at least 20 years of relevant professional experience as a judge, lawyer or legal academic.

The selection process was competitive.

The Liberian government submitted three nominees after being allocated a seat on the rotating bench. The three were interviewed in Sierra Leone in April by the ECOWAS Community Judicial Council, made up of chief justices from across the region. Jutonu Kollie, Ministry of Justice communications officer, did not respond to questions about the identities of the other two finalists by deadline.

Brumskine recalled sitting before nine regional chief justices who were sitting as the Economic Community of West African States Community Judicial Council, the body responsible for screening and recommending candidates for the court judgeship as part of her interview panel, wearing headphones as interpreters translated among English, French, and Portuguese speakers. The questions ranged from Economic Community of West African States treaties and human rights protocols to regional affairs and legal philosophy.

The Judicial Council ranked the three candidates and sent its recommendations to the Economic Community of West African States Council of Ministers before the Authority of Heads of State and Government gave final approval.

Brumskine said one of her priorities will be helping ordinary West Africans better understand a Court many do not know exists. She wants the Court to become more visible outside Abuja, including by holding activities and proceedings in member states.

“Let the Court come to Monrovia,” she said. “Let people come and see and hear and feel what the Community Court of Justice is. Let’s take it to Accra. Let’s take it to all the different countries in the region.”

She said she believes that access matters particularly for women and other citizens seeking remedies for human rights violations, including human trafficking, which has been growing in Liberia and where the government has done little to protect victims. She stressed that the court is for all West African citizens, not just the elite, to hold governments to account.

“A woman in Buchanan can take her case to the Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice if she meets certain criteria,” Brumskine said.

Her appointment means yet another Liberian woman has attained a prestigious post outside the country while women in the country continued to struggle for representation in leadership. Women hold just 10 of 103 seats in the Legislature. Brumskine said progress has been slow, but she sees her own responsibility as extending beyond occupying a regional seat.

Bowoulo Taylor Kelley, vice president of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, said Brumskine’s appointment demonstrates what Liberian women can achieve when given the opportunity. “These barriers do not reflect a lack of talent,” Kelley said. “Rather, they reflect systems that must be deliberately opened and made fairer.”

At her Monrovia law firm, she said she is mentoring three young women lawyers to take on greater responsibilities eventually. “It’s my role to train. It’s my role to mentor so that when Charlyne Brumskine goes out, they are stepping up to take my place locally,” she said.

For Brumskine, however, the immediate task is the Court and the four years ahead.

“To be a judge, it is the pinnacle, it is the height, it’s the peak of our professional career,” she said. “And not just a judge in Liberia. To be a regional judge.”

Brumskine’s term begins in Mid-October 2026.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by a private donor and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The donors had no say in the story’s content.

Monrovia – As Liberia marks its 179th Independence Day, the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has called for a renewed national commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls while strengthening peace, inclusive governance and sustainable development.

By Patience M. Jones, patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

In a statement commemorating the nation’s independence, WONGOSOL congratulated President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., the Government and people of Liberia and Liberians across the diaspora on the country’s historic milestone.

The organization described Independence Day as more than a celebration of Liberia’s sovereignty, emphasizing that it is also an opportunity for reflection, national unity and collective action toward building a more peaceful and prosperous nation.

The organization praised the Government of Liberia (GoL) for advancing policies and programs aimed at improving the lives of women and girls.

It specifically highlighted efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment, strengthen inclusive governance, expand access to justice, improve social protection, support girls’ education, and intensify the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

WONGOSOL also acknowledged the government’s collaboration with civil society organizations and international development partners in implementing Liberia’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Beijing Platform for Action, and the global Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

The Secretariat extended appreciation to Liberia’s development partners, the United Nations, bilateral and multilateral institutions, women’s rights organizations, community-based organizations, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector and the media for their continued support in promoting gender equality, democratic governance, peacebuilding, women’s leadership, economic empowerment, and human rights.

As the umbrella body representing women’s organizations across Liberia, WONGOSOL celebrated the resilience and contributions of Liberian women and girls, describing them as the backbone of families, communities and national development.

According to the organization, women continue to make significant contributions in agriculture, commerce, education, public service, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding despite persistent social and economic challenges.

However, WONGOSOL cautioned that many women and girls continue to face sexual and gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, economic inequality, barriers to justice, limited leadership opportunities and emerging threats such as online abuse and exploitation.

The organization warned that these challenges undermine not only the rights and dignity of women and girls but also Liberia’s broader goals of peace, security, and sustainable development.

WONGOSOL therefore urged policymakers and national stakeholders to ensure that the protection, health, safety, and human rights of women and girls remain central to national policies and development priorities.

The organization further called on the Government, development partners, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, and all Liberians to work collectively to safeguard the rights and dignity of every woman and girl, strengthen measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harmful practices, expand economic opportunities and quality education, promote women’s meaningful participation in leadership and decision-making, and foster accountability, reconciliation, social cohesion  and inclusive governance.

“Our independence reminds us that nation-building is a shared responsibility,” WONGOSOL said.

“Together, let us continue to build a Liberia where every woman and girl can live free from violence and discrimination, where every young person has the opportunity to realize their full potential, and where peace, justice, equality and opportunity are enjoyed by all.”

As Liberia celebrates 179 years of independence, WONGOSOL called on all citizens to renew their commitment to building “One Liberia”—a nation united in purpose, strengthened by diversity, and inspired by hope for a brighter future.

The organization concluded by wishing all Liberians a peaceful and memorable 179th Independence Day, reaffirming its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment, strengthening communities and transforming Liberia.

Monrovia — The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has strongly condemned what it describes as the degrading and inhumane treatment of a woman and a young girl during an alleged operation carried out by officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), calling for an immediate, independent investigation and accountability for those involved.

By Patience M. Jones, patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

The condemnation follows the circulation of a disturbing video on social media that appears to show LDEA officers forcing their way into a home, where a woman was left completely naked while being filmed. The footage also shows a visibly distressed young girl present during the operation, reportedly pleading amid the chaos as officers continued with the raid.

Although WONGOSOL said it is still verifying the exact location and circumstances surrounding the incident, the organization described the images in the video as deeply disturbing and incompatible with the standards expected of professional law enforcement officers.

According to WONGOSOL, the most troubling aspect of the video is that rather than allowing the woman to cover herself, officers allegedly continued recording her while making remarks that appeared to mock and humiliate her. One officer is reportedly heard saying words to the effect of, “You’re naked; I’ll record you.”

“If authentic, this conduct is cruel, degrading, and completely inconsistent with the professionalism expected of law enforcement,” the organization stated.

WONGOSOL stressed that while it fully supports Liberia’s efforts to combat the growing threat of illicit drugs, no law enforcement operation should come at the expense of a person’s dignity and fundamental rights.

“The authority to investigate and arrest does not include the authority to humiliate,” the organization emphasized, adding that human rights are not suspended simply because someone is suspected of committing a crime.

The women’s rights organization reminded authorities that the Liberian Constitution guarantees equality before the law under Article 11 and due process protections under Article 21. It also cited Liberia’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

WONGOSOL said the presence of a young girl during the operation makes the incident even more alarming, warning that exposing children to violent or humiliating law enforcement actions can have lasting psychological consequences.

The organization called on the Director General of the LDEA and the Ministry of Justice to immediately launch a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the incident. It further urged that any officer found responsible be held fully accountable under the law.

Beyond accountability, WONGOSOL is calling for broader reforms within Liberia’s law enforcement agencies, including enhanced training on constitutional rights, gender-responsive policing, child protection, and the lawful use of force. It also recommended clear protocols prohibiting officers from unnecessarily recording or disseminating images of individuals in degrading circumstances during official operations.

Appealing to the conscience of the nation, WONGOSOL posed a question to Liberians: “If the woman in that video were your mother, sister, wife, or daughter, would this treatment be acceptable?”

The organization concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights of women and girls across Liberia.

“Every woman deserves dignity. Every child deserves protection. Every suspect deserves due process. These are rights, not privileges,” WONGOSOL declared, pledging to continue speaking out against abuse and demanding justice regardless of who the perpetrators may be.