By Joseph Tumbey; josephtumbey@gmail.com; (+231)777941209

IPNEWS-Monrovia: The Women Auxiliary of the Liberia Labor Congress (LLC) adopts a Gender Policy draft to address the challenges women face at their work places.

Speaking at the official launching program at the headquarters of LLC in Monrovia on Monday September 27, 2021, Atty. Kim Harris who interpreted the Gender Policy draft stated, the Motive of the Gender Policy Convention is to guard and protect women at their work places and as well as to eliminate any forms of discrimination, violence and harassment against Women.

According to Atty. Kim Harris, the Policy will be the focal point of reference for LLC and affiliate unions to pursue the Vision of a Gender Equal Trade Union Movement. She added gender equality is a basic human right and constitutes a critical foundation for socio-economic progress, inclusive society and development.

“This Gender Policy is therefore to address the challenges facing women; to turn the challenges  women face into opportunities that women can use to effectively participate in trade union activities, including leadership” she asserted.

She maintained the Policy is based on the national and international human rights framework, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Sustainable Development Goals and Decent Work Act among others.

Meanwhile , Atty. Harris  pointed out that, the Policy has  laid out LLC’s commitments to strive for workplaces to be  free from discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, identity, ethnicity, disability, economic and social structures with  other form of oppression. She urged, Gender equality and equity must be the core of LLC’s among Trade unions.

Atty. Harris also added a successful gender equality programming requires a holistic approach and must be viewed through an intersectional lens.

However, the Liberia Labor Congress Executive Secretary, Ms. Cecelia D. Travers who participated in the convention stated that women have no confidence in themselves. She maintains that they are always backward when it’s time to participate in to social, economic and political activities.

Ms. Travers urges her counterparts to show case through their inclusive involvement in to all aspects of labor work force across the country.

Meanwhile the National Chair lady of the LLC said,  all the 15 counties were represented in the convention, and vows to use the opportunity to protect the interest of female in the Congress across Liberia.