IPNEWS: The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, launched the national policy dialogue platform on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
The cross-sectorial dialogue platform which was launched at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, aims to tackle policy-related constraints hindering gender equality and women’s empowerment in Liberia.
As it key objectives include driving policy reforms and reviews in thematic areas such as gender-based violence, resilient livelihoods, and climate change adaptation for women.
With the primary goal of identifying prioritizing, and advocating for policy and legal reforms that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment nationwide.
Additionally, the dialogue aims to strengthen the leadership role of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in steering the empowerment agenda for women and girls in Liberia.
And served as a platform for cross-sectorial policy discussions on empowerment and gender-based violence, engaging ministries and stakeholders committed to enhancing human capital development and socioeconomic opportunities for women and girls.
The dialogue further aims to foster collaboration and partnerships among state and non-state actors, with the objective of achieving greater impact in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Liberia.
Meanwhile, launching the National Policy Dialogue Platform on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, the minister of Gender Children and Social Protection Honorable Gbeme Horace-Kollie stated that the Policy Dialogue Platform is intended to support existing interventions to policies relating to gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence.
She added that the initiative is established under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, financed by the World Bank, noting that activities of the platform will essentially drive policy reforms and review specific areas, including gender-based violence, resilient livelihoods and climate change adaptation with the overall objective of identifying areas for policy reforms.
“The platform will be the spring boat on which the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection will stand to strengthen the leadership for women to stir the affairs of policy agenda that promotes the interest of women and girls,” Minister Horace-Kollie noted.
The top government official indicated that as the nation seeks to answer how the national government prioritizes addressing gender equality, stressing that it is very crucial for more attention to be given to addressing sexual harassment, lower representation of women, domestic violence and discrimination among others.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my hope that this significant platform will be the beginning of the journey that finds a pathway for inclusive and sustainable policy that drives empowerment, equality and protection for all women and girls in Liberia. At this point, I now declare the National Policy Dialogue Platform officially launched,” Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie asserted.
Also speaking at the launch of the project which gained support from the world Bank, the World Bank through madam Georgia Wallen, a proxy of the World Bank Country Manager at the
Gender Policy Dialogue Platform Meeting
intimated that the World Bank Group gender strategy has three strategic objectives: to end gender-based violence (GBV); elevate human capital and expand economic opportunities; and engage women as leaders.
Stating that these objectives underpin all of the engagement in Liberia, including focus on women and girls’ empowerment and protection from GBV.
Therefore, the Liberia women Empowerment Project is a flagship project implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Adding that it is the first of its kind for WBG partnership with Liberia, and it prioritizes addressing pressing challenges confronting women and girls in the country — notably gender-based violence and disparities in economic opportunity.
She postulated that gender equality is unachievable without a sustained and broad-based effort involving changes in policies and institutions to address multiple challenges simultaneously.
At such, the Liberia women Empowerment Project is the motivation behind establishment of a policy dialogue platform which aimed at bolstering the leadership role of the Gender Ministry to prioritize and advocate for key policy and legal reforms needed for advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls in the country.
Adding that the Platform is one of the key interventions of the Liberia Women Empowerment project.
In furtherance, she stated that World Bank program will focus on supporting the Ministry of Gender in adopting Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act to eliminate the harmful practice that has broad physical, psychological, and reproductive health consequences for girls and women.
Adding that the amendment to the New Elections Law to increase women’s representation in the legislature, therefore, increasing women’s representation in policy forums is critical for adopting and implementing gender specific policy reforms.
“Secondly the WB program will focus on supporting the Ministry of Gender in adopting Female Genital Mutilation Prohibition Act to eliminate the harmful practice that has broad physical, psychological, and reproductive health consequences for girls and women.
We will offer our full support to the Ministry of Gender and Health as they collaborate with UN Women and UNFPA on this vital policy reform and to develop implementation guidelines and procedures for effective implementation of the proposed law.
The amendment to the New Elections Law to increase women’s representation in the legislature is very important. Increasing women’s representation in policy forums is critical for adopting and implementing gender specific policy reforms. By amplifying women’s voices in parliament, Liberia can pave the way for a future where women’s empowerment – including GBV prevention and response-related interventions – are prioritized.”
For her part, the Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah in a remark intimated that to change the way in which gender equity is looked at, as a nation, a more practical approach must be taken after the documentation of policies.
“We must not only talk about gender equality, but see it to the end.”
The education minister stated that as per data, girls usually start school at the foundational level but fall off by the time they reach high school.
Therefore, pustulated that dialogues concerning gender equality and women empowerment are critically important because they are the ones that inform government about what to do in the various sectors.
At the same time, Madam Comfort Lampty, UN Women resident coordinator stated that the reoccurrence of gender-based violence can be addressed through preventive methods that will provide livelihood opportunities for women.
“The reoccurrence of gender-based violence that has integrated in women can be addressed through prevention. Prevention is a key issue addressing negative social norms. Addressing the root cause, we will be able to prevent gender-based violence.
By promoting livelihood opportunities for women in itself is a preventative method.” UN Women resident coordinator stated
Providing an overview of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project, its National Project Coordinator, Cllr. Margaret Nigba said the project runs for five (5) years and it is divided into five components.
She added the Liberia Women Empowerment Project is a US$44.6 million multi-sectoral initiative to address key barriers to gender equality in Liberia which aligns with government priorities on women’s empowerment and sexual and gender-based violence.
Cllr. Nigba also stressed that the project seeks response, while complementing ongoing investments and piloting new initiatives in healthcare, education and SGBV survivor services.
“The overall objective of the project is to improve social and livelihood services for women and rights in targeted communities, foster positive social reforms and strengthen the government’s capacity to advance women and girl’s empowerment, ” she noted.
