By: James Lehmer Hiama, Jr.; hiamajames@gmail.com

IPNEWS – Margibi County: Women Education Development Organization of Liberia (WEDOL), over the weekend completed two days’ workshop on land tenure at Edmond Foday’s guest house in Weala, Margibi County.

The workshop was organized under the theme “Strengthening The Agency of Young Women In Peace-building Processes, and Land Tenure in Liberia”, and it brought together at least 20 participants from Worhn, Baypolu, Harbel, Kakata, and Weala amongst others.

In an opening remark of the workshop, WEDOL’s Chief Executive Director, Madame Roseline Cassell disclosed that the workshop will be extended in others part of Margibi County, and is expected to run for eighteen (18) months period.

She stated, “The Liberia land rights act in 2018 empowers women and girls to participate in land governance structures, as such, the theory about women cannot own land or make decision in land matter should be erased.”

“We will make sure and conduct this workshop across Margibi to educate women about their rights on land issue; Liberians need to cancel the perception that says women cannot own land or discuss land issue” Madame Roseline Cassell said.

The Chief Executive Director revealed that the 18 months Peace-building and conflict mitigation for sustainable development project is sponsored by -Liberia with support from United Nations peace building fund, and it will target 3,000 female and 530 male, including 2,500 young women between the ages of 16 and 35, and 500 older women in four (4) counties of Liberia, and at least 20,000 people indirectly through radio and social media.

She averred when the program is completed; WEDOL and its partners expect 3,000 youths especially young women have increased knowledge on land governance and hold community leaders, government, and concessions accountable to their land right, and young women have increased advocacy space at national level on land governance and peace building amongst others.

The woman’s right advocate at the same time named Liberia Land Authority (LLA), Clan, Paramount and Town chiefs, Margibi County superintendent Jerry Varnie and Commissioner in Margibi County as strategic partners that WEDOL is expected to work with during the 18 months project.

Others include National Civil Society and Land Rights Movement, Internal Affairs, Justice, Mines and Energy and Gender Ministries.

Meanwhile, Madame Cassell hailed ActionAid – Liberia and United Nations Peace Building Fund (UNPBF) for providing support to WEDOL, for the conduct of the 18 months Peace-building and conflict mitigation for sustainable development project.

“WEDOL is grateful for the support and cordial partnership it has with ActionAid – Liberia and United Nations Peace Building Fund; we expect more of this from our partners as we strive to put women at the top of development in Liberia.”

Recently, ActionAid -Liberia in partnership with Liberia women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), Community Sustainable Development Organization (COSDO), Women Education and  Development Organization of Liberia (WEDOL), and Women and children Development Association of Liberia (WOCDAL) launched 18 months Peace-building and conflict mitigation for sustainable development project in Kakata, Margibi County under the theme ” Strengthening The Agency of Young Women In Peace-building Processes and Land Tenure In Liberia” to enhance the leadership and capacity of young women organizations and networks for counties (Bong, Gbarpolu, Margibi and Sinoe) to organize and lead community actions to constructively assert claims for their land rights and inclusive and natural resource governance to prevent conflict and ensure peace is contained in Liberia.