Liberia: Solidarity Center Concludes One-Day Integration Coalitions and Workshop with Stakeholders in Monrovia

Monrovia – The Solidarity Center, funded by the US Department of Labor, successfully concluded a one-day Integration Coalitions and Workshop with stakeholders in Monrovia. The project, titled “Elevating Women’s Participation in the Workplace in West Africa,” is a five-year initiative implemented by the Solidarity Center in Liberia and Nigeria. In Liberia, key stakeholders include unions, government agencies, and civil society organizations. The project’s focus sectors encompass the oil and gas industries in Nigeria and the mining, rubber, and oil palm sectors in Liberia.

The overarching goal of the project is to enhance the involvement of working-age women in the labor force, with a particular emphasis on women from marginalized groups in Liberia and Nigeria. This aim will be achieved by fostering stronger networks among individuals, communities, and institutions to address issues of discrimination and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) within the workplace. The project also seeks to promote greater equity in the workforce for women, reducing barriers to entry, participation, and dignity in both Liberia and Nigeria.

The project’s objectives also extend to minimizing instances of discrimination, sexual abuse, sexual and verbal harassment, long work hours, low wages, pay inequity, unsafe working conditions, and limited opportunities for learning and growth for women, thereby promoting meaningful economic inclusion.

During the opening remarks, Mr. Sonny Ogbuehi, the Country Program Director-West Africa, highlighted the findings of a Gender Analysis conducted by the Solidarity Center in 2016 in Liberia and a subsequent research study conducted in Nigeria in 2021. These studies revealed alarming statistics, indicating that 57% of individuals across various sectors had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, encompassing behaviors such as groping, touching, and even rape. Mr. Ogbuehi emphasized the project’s potential to reshape narratives in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Liberia, while advocating for the ratification of the ILO Convention No.190, which concerns the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work in Liberia.

Senator Honorable Wellington Geevon Smith, the Senate Chair on Labor and representative of Rivercess County, highlighted the critical role of girls’ education in combatting harassment and violence faced by women in workplaces. He stressed that education empowers women to recognize unacceptable behaviors, speak out against violations, and seek solutions. Senator Smith stated, “Addressing these challenges hinges on providing education to women. Organizations should prioritize building the capacity of women to qualify for opportunities. Encouraging education for girls, rather than mere accommodation, is key.”

Madam Enad S. Harris, Director of the Gender and Social Inclusion Unit at the Ministry of Labor, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding women’s rights and creating a safe working environment. She highlighted the ministry’s establishment of a unit aligned with the project’s objectives and its dedication to fostering diversity, eliminating discrimination, and combating sexual harassment and abuse in workplaces.

Mr. Mohamed Massalee, Technical Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, expressed gratitude to the Solidarity Center for organizing the workshop and reiterated the ministry’s dedication to advancing women’s rights across all levels of society. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to bring about tangible change in workers’ lives, underscoring the need to pool resources, knowledge, and expertise to eliminate discrimination and gender-based violence and harassment.

Workshop participants commended the Solidarity Center for the valuable opportunity and pledged to implement the lessons learned within their respective organizations. Madam Marthaline Cole, Advisor at the Liberia Labour Congress, emphasized the unacceptability of gender-based violence at all levels and pledged to educate women about their rights and how to prevent violence in the workplace. She expressed a commitment to train and inform those who were not present at the workshop.

Counselor Evelyn Gongloe from the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) highlighted the need for heightened attention to address these concerns within the private sector, where women often face elevated instances of violation.

The diverse group of workshop participants included representatives from various entities, such as Firestone Plantation in Margibi, Equatorial Palm Oil, AcelorMittal in Grand Bassa, Mano Company, and counties including Capemount and Montserrado.

Founded in 1997 and affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the Solidarity Center is the largest US workers’ rights organization. It collaborates with unions, worker associations, and community groups globally to promote equitable and sustainable development, empowering men and women to assert their rights and enhance their working and living conditions.