Monrovia – The Liberia Feminist Forum (LFF) and partners have embarked on a series of forums aimed at deepening women’s knowledge about dual marriage and property inheritance.
The Forum targets over 200 women from local women organizations in the country.
According to Caroline Bowah, a member of LFF, the town hall series is to focus on legal awareness and how women can access information on cohabitation, dual legal system for marriage, family inheritance, and family rights.
She said the legal system is complex and women currently have difficulties in understanding it.
“It is important to bring women together to break down the law, each of the weddings in the legal framework has implications,” she said.
Madam Bowah furthered that the town hall series is meant to deepen women organizations’ knowledge and understanding of the different laws.
This is the first series of legal awareness according to her and there are other phases expected soon.
Some of the topics discussed include highlighting the challenges around success to information and the implication seeking justice for women was done by Deddeh Kweke, former Sexual Gender-Based Director, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Famater Roesler, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs, warned women to be careful during marriage, adding that it is illegal for a couple to marry twice using two forms of marriage.
She says there is a ramification to using the dual legal system of marriage.
Other topics include myths and misconceptions of family, marriage and inheritance rights by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
Sussie Telleh of the Liberia National Police spoke on the law enforcement supports women’s access to justice.
While Cllr. Deweh Gray, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Legal Affairs, presented on marriage under a dual legal system that is traditional and statutory weddings looking at the pros and cons.
Cllr. Ruth Jappah spoke on the inheritance rights of women and children in statutory settings and the inheritance rights of women and children in customary setting were presented by Cllr. Abla Williams.
Williametta Saydee Tarr, Minister of Gender, said women and girls are more victims of violence urging a collective effort in tackling the ‘menace’
She said women have less right to property adding that the ministry is currently faced with financial constraints urging groups to advocate for more funds.
She furthers called on women to collaborate to ensure that the Domestic Violence is passed into the act.