IPNews-Monrovia: Liberia’s Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor has been giving her perspective on women’s leadership in Africa with a call on African women to recognize their power as manifested in their numbers.
She highlighted the global statistics which suggests that by 2030, Africa will have a population of 2 billion people, 50% of which will be women, representing the largest group of females in the world.
The Liberian first female Vice President, who is also the President of the Liberian Senate, spoke recently when she served as Guest of Honor at the 30th Annual Session of the Crans Montana Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 26 to 29, 2019.
At the session of the African Women’s Forum, Madam Howard-Taylor According to a dispatch, shared thoughts on the theme “Women’s Leadership in Africa: an Inspiring Evolution for a Global Change “.
VP Howard-Taylor furthered that women must endure, embrace education, mentor younger women, fight against isolation, and join political parties in order to contribute to the national and international discourse.
She proffered that women are multi-tasking, and should therefore build a “Critical Mass” to engender the change they want to see.
VP Howard-Taylor recommended the establishment of the “Women Political Fund” for the purpose of supporting women in electioneering and development processes.
The Liberia female advocate shared the platform with Mrs. Haja Conde Djene Kaba, First Lady of the Republic of Guinea, Mrs. Asmaa Dyani, Director, Phosboucraa Foundation, Morocco, and Mr. Alan Doss, President, Kofi Annan Foundation.
Mr. Doss has a historic relationship with Liberia, where he served as Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the United Nations and Head of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIL) which provided security and political support for the 2005 national democratic elections in Liberia, ushering in more than a decade of peace and stability.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Detests Low Budgetary Support to INCHR-Liberia in Talks with VP Howard-Taylor in Geneva, Switzerland
The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, has paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva, Switzerland.
In their talks held at the Geneva United Nations Headquarters, Madam Bachelet congratulated VP Howard-Taylor on her election and welcomed the Human Rights Pledge made recently by His Excellency President George Manneh Weah and members of the Liberian Senate.
According to a dispatch from the VP’s office, Madam Bachelet commended the government of Liberia for respecting the rights of Liberians who peacefully assembled on June 7, 2019 to protest.
She thanked the government of Liberia for the passage of the Land Rights Act while calling for implementation of the instrument as well as the reactivation of Transparency agencies to fight issues of corruption and human rights abuses.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concerns about the low budgetary support to the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) and at the same time expressing alarm over the situation of Gender and Domestic violence in Liberia.
She also questioned the government of Liberia’s road-map for justice for victims of the Liberian Civil War and the establishment of the War Crimes Court.
Responding, the Liberian Vice President highlighted the passage of the Domestic Violence Act by the Legislature, lamenting however that the issue of Female Genital Mutilation was not addressed in the Act.
She agreed that the INCHR of Liberia is challenged financially but pointed out that the entire country’s economy is under pressure and appealed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for financial support to the INCHR.
On the issues of the War Crimes Court, VP Howard-Taylor pointed out that the two major issues perennially discussed from the previous Government of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to the current Government, were the issues of corruption and the establishment of the War Crimes Court.
On corruption, Madam Howard-Taylor accentuated the need for the establishment of a specialized corruption court to expeditiously adjudicate incidences of corruption.
She recalled her days at the Liberian Senate when she crafted a bill which called for the establishment of a corruption court, which was tabled because of its sensitive nature.
On the issue of the War Crimes Court, the Vice President said President Weah is concerned and has mandated the Ministry of Justice to develop a roadmap and make the necessary recommendations to the Cabinet in order to make a determination.
VP Howard-Taylor then expressed her belief that a “War Memorial” could be greatly helpful as it is a key component of both restorative and retributive justice systems.
“This War Memorial when established, like the case of Rwanda, will unearth the level of casualties, identity the victims and explain the historical occurrences involving the Liberian Civil War,” VP Howard-Taylor explained.
