Pass Women Accountability Room Calls on Liberians to Remain Peaceful Amid Counting and Announcements of Results

MONROVIA – The Project Accountable Safe Space Women’s Accountability Room (PASSWAR) has applauded the people of Liberia for their meaningful engagement in the electoral process and for turning out to vote for the second round of the Presidential elections.

In its post-election statement, PASSWAR notes and welcomes the marked improvement with regards to the orderliness of the general conduct of the runoff election processes, and notes the significant improvement in the queue control at all the polling places observed and Braille ballots available for those visually impaired. The NEC workers were generally helpful and domestic observers such as the LEON, ECC, ABIC were observed at the polling centers. Polling centers opened on time at many of the polling centers.

According to PASSWAR, while no major incident of violence against women in elections (VAWIE) was reported, it noticed the new procedures wherein political parties’ agents had a copy of NEC’s FRR at each monitored polling station and said to be used for verification purposes. A procedure it said may have been responsible for isolated incidents of disturbance at different polling places.

Considering the above, PASSWAR calls on stakeholders in the elections process and electorates to continue to remain calm and peaceful as the polls have officially closed and the National Elections Commission begin the process of counting of the ballots.

It notes that the transparency and accountability of the process requires that everyone avoids distrust, misinformation, and violence. “We call on citizens to follow the rule of law and avoid resorting to violence. Liberia is all we have; let’s keep the peace,” the group urged.

Earlier, PASSWAR commended the National Elections Commission (NEC) for its steady progress on electoral preparedness in delivering the runoff election on November 14, 2023.

To observe the polls, PASSWAR commissioned 40 short term observers across the country as well as observers from partner organizations who are coordinating and providing expert services in other rooms. These observers are collating pieces of information and reporting in real-time to the PASS Women Accountability Room. The key focus of PASSWAR is documenting, reporting, and providing legal aid for instances of violence against women, especially grassroots women and marginalized groups in the run-off elections.

The consortium has documented the following reported acts of violence and potential threats to the integrity and credibility of the elections results, as well as advocating for non-violence and peace leading up to the presidential run-off election and calls on the Liberia National Police to investigate them.

They include reports of alleged acts of violence originating from Nimba and Grand Gedeh, the huge influx of individuals from neighboring countries as Liberia approached the presidential run-off elections, allegations made by the parties involved in the run-off elections that have the potential to compromise the credibility of election observers.

The group urged all parties to call on their supporters involved in the forthcoming elections to refrain from engaging in activities that jeopardize the peace and tranquility of Liberia and strictly abide by the law. It further called on the public to refrain from all forms of discrimination and acts of violence that limit women participation, refrain from disseminating disinformation, distortions, and misinformation regarding election observers.

Additionally, PASSWAR urges the Liberia National Police and National Elections Commission to operate with openness and transparency to ensure the trust of the Liberian public, provide the Liberian public with updates regarding the progress of the investigation into the acts of violence that took place in Lofa County and on the Japanese Freeway in Montserrado County, act on recommendations shared with them from the first round of the National Legislative and Presidential Elections.

PASSWAR has observers dispatched nationwide to monitor the voting accessibility of women, grassroots women, and underprivileged communities throughout the election. It commends its observers and other groups involved in elections monitoring for their efforts to ensure credibility in this year’s polls.

The Project Accountable Safe Space Women’s Accountability Room (PASSWAR) is a consortium of grassroots women’s organizations which include African Women Leadership Network (AWLN), Community Health Initiative (CHI), Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH), Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI), Women Human Rights Defenders of Liberia, Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Women of Positive Actions (WOPA) and Sister’s Hand Liberia.