Monrovia – In the joint chambers of the Legislature, where the final hearings on whether the Affirmative Action Act must be passed by the House of Representatives, the argument was a bit tense on Wednesday.
Report by Mae Azango [email protected]
The interactive forum, which brought together actors of the bill in question, such as: the Ministry of Gender, the disable community, youth group, civil society, the elderly, Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, (AFELL), Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia, (WONGOSOL) and the public, who presented their reasons to the House, why the bill should be passed.
“We are in the 21st century and Liberia has come of age. We made modicum gains in dismantling the barriers, which hold one gender superior to the other, thereby respecting the dignity of all. However, much more needs to be done, in a timely manner, to guarantee for all, on a sustainable basis, a space at the national decision-making table,” said Gender Minister Julia Duncan Cassell.
When asked by the presiding officer of the Judiciary Committee, Worlea Saywah Dunah, as to why women should have extra 17 seats, when in fact women can run for any position during elections, Minister Cassell said Liberia can emulate the success story of Rwanda, that went through a bad experience, but yet many women are in parliament and at all levels of government.
“We do not say men cannot do the job but we want to help you, so that we all can work side by side. Go to Senegal and see the transformation, a country that is predominately a Muslim country, but they have more women involved in positions.”
“So based on our own studies from these countries, we see the transformation made and we think that is what our country Liberia needs to move this country forward in terms of making the right decisions in development, so we need to be your partners in making this happen,” she further said.
There was a disagreement among the Representatives, as many had their own reasons why the bill should not be passed.
Addressing the issue of three seats for the Liberian youths, Henry Fahnbullneh and some other Representatives argued that it is not necessary that the youths advocate for three extra seats, when there are already youths in the Legislature.
Only three Representatives spoke for the Affirmative Action bill to be passed: Nimba County Representative Larry Younquoi, River Gee County Representative Johnson Chea and Montesrrado County Representative Acarous M. Gray.
Being called “HeforShe” champions, they said that the bill must be passed during so that women can have equal participation to represent their constituencies.
The Affirmative Action Bill, which has suffered many setbacks in the past since 2010, was recently passed by the Senate, leaving it to the House of Representative which to arrive at a decision.
Groups gathered in the joint chambers following the hearings said the bill would only suit the interest of elite women who are only using the platform to have the rural women on their side.
“That bill will surely be passed tomorrow, just as the act to remove Speaker Tyler was bought by the Executive Branch of Government, because we have only one form of government,” said a dissatisfied youth who was leaving the hall.
SECTION 2: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUEBTIES
2.1 The form and immediately upon the passage of this act, twenty one (21) special legislative constituencies are established within the republic of Liberia for which additional twenty one (21) members of the house of representative, shall be elected beginning with the 2017 Presidential and general Elections.
2.2 Individuals seeking for elections to the house of Representatives within the special legislative constituencies shall be subjected to the eligibility criteria for said position as set forth in the constitution and the Elections laws of Liberia; and, once elected, shall enjoy the tenure, rights, powers, privileges and benefits accorded members of the house of Representatives as enshrined in the constitution, statutes and laws of Liberia.
SECTION 3: ALLOCATION OF SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUENCIES
3.1 Fifteen (15) of the special Legislative constituencies established by this act are exclusively allotted to Liberian Women, with one constituency in each county.
3.2 Three (3) of the special Legislative constituencies established by this act are exclusively allotted to Liberian Youths; One of the elected young Representatives shall be a female.
3.3 Three (3) of the special Legislative constituencies established by this act are exclusively allotted to Liberians with disabilities, consistent with section 9 of the 2005 act creating the National Commission on Disability, One of the elected Representatives of the persons of disabilities , shall be a female.