Monrovia, Liberia – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), in collaboration with UN Women Liberia, recently hosted a high-level national dialogue at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. The event focused on accelerating the implementation of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda for women and girls, bringing together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, and development partners.
By Patience M. Jones, contributing writer
The dialogue followed Liberia’s participation in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and its renewed commitment to championing women’s rights through the “Trailblazer” initiative.
Government Commitment to Global Pledges
Deputy Minister for Gender, Atty. Laura Golakeh, emphasized Liberia’s dedication to turning global commitments into tangible local actions. Recalling the country’s participation at the CSW in New York last March, she noted the importance of reflecting on the progress made and identifying actionable steps going forward.
“We’ve come together to assess the commitments we made on behalf of Liberia and explore how to translate them into meaningful outcomes within our local context,” said Atty. Golakeh. “It is crucial that by the next reporting period, we can highlight measurable achievements.”
Liberia has committed to two key actions under the Trailblazer framework: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) and Investing in Young Women and Girls, with a focus on adolescents.
Atty. Golakeh noted that these efforts not only aim to elevate Liberia’s global standing but also improve the lived experiences of women and girls across the country.
Civil Society Calls for Accountability and Collaboration
Madam Esther S. Daris Yanso, Executive Director of the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), urged the government to strengthen collaboration with civil society actors, who she described as “frontline responders” in communities.
“We are the eyes of the people, monitoring government actions and ensuring they are truly impacting the lives of Liberian women and girls,” Madam Esther stated.
She also highlighted the gap between commitments and actual implementation, citing cases of gender-based violence that continue to go unaddressed. “We continue to speak out against harmful practices, but the reality is these practices persist. Girls who are forcibly initiated are denied their right to education and safety,” she added.
Madam Esther shared a tragic case of a young woman allegedly killed by her partner, underscoring the challenges families face in accessing justice due to lack of resources. She called for greater support from the Ministry of Gender and justice sector actors.
UN Women Reaffirms Support
Madam Priscilla Wanjiru, Partner and Coordination Specialist with UN Women Liberia, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting the Liberian government and civil society in fulfilling the Trailblazer obligations.
“At both regional and global levels, we are here to ensure the government is held accountable and supported in implementing its commitments,” said Madam Wanjiru.
Progress on the National Roadmap
Mr. J. Worlobah Momolu, Technical Assistant at the MGCSP, outlined the steps taken to operationalize the Trailblazer roadmap, which serves as a strategic framework for multisectoral implementation of the two focused areas.
He noted that Liberia officially became a Trailblazer country in April 2025 and a comprehensive national roadmap has been developed, and key actions including the revision of the National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Action Plan are set for completion by August 2025.
As part of the roadmap, several steps are underway. They include finalizing the terms of reference and hiring a national consultant, drafting and validating the revised GBV Action Plan, conducting a national stakeholder workshop and disseminating the finalized plan.
The revision process is being led by the GBV Division of MGCSP in partnership with UN Women.
Looking Ahead
With a major global summit scheduled for September 2025, Liberia is working to ensure it can report meaningful progress. The national dialogue served as a crucial moment to align stakeholders, renew commitment, and catalyze local actions that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
As Liberia continues its role as a Trailblazer country, both government and civil society stress the need for continued collaboration, accountability, and community-based solutions to achieve sustainable progress.
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