IPNEWS: ActionAid Liberia has launched its Country Strategy Paper (CSP) III: Action for Rights and Social Justice, a comprehensive five-year program running from 2024 to 2029, aimed at advancing rights and social justice for most disadvantaged groups, girls and women across Liberia. The launch event, held at the prominent Musu’s Spot in Congo Town, saw participation from a broad spectrum of government agencies, rights groups, and rural women’s organizations.
In her address, ActionAid Liberia Country Director, Madam Elizabeth Gbah Johnson, outlined the three core priorities of the strategy:
- Structural and Systemic Change: Targeting gender equality by addressing women’s and feminine activities.
- Democratic Governance: Enhancing accountability, inclusion, and active female participation.
- Community Resilience: Strengthening communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change and disasters, with a focus on humanitarian responses for girls and women.
Madam Johnson emphasized the initiative’s goal of challenging structural violence against women and girls through policy reform advocacy. She highlighted that CSP III, crafted solely by ActionAid Liberia, aims to empower Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and women’s groups to demand systemic change and eradicate violence against women and girls.
“The campaign will build a stronger force to advocate for women’s and girls’ rights, aiming for increased political participation and representation, economic empowerment, and a reduction in the gender gap,” stated Madam Johnson.
Deputy Minister of Research, Policy, and Planning at the Ministry of Gender, Social Protection, and Children, Mr. Curtis V. Dorley, lauded ActionAid Liberia’s CSP III for aligning with Liberia’s Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism (ARREST) agenda, this will go a long way in empowering and improving service delivery to the people of Liberia. Furthermore, he pointed out that Liberia faces significant post-war challenges in ensuring human rights, particularly for women and children. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains a pressing issue, with 50% of women surveyed in Afro barometer 2023 reporting it as a common occurrence. The 2020 Liberia Demographic Survey revealed that 60% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Mr. Dorley detailed the government’s actions to combat these issues, including establishing one-stop centers and safe homes, mapping service providers for efficient SGBV responses, and collaborating with UN Women and the Law Reform Commission to assess and address discriminatory laws.
Assistant Minister for Planning, Policy, and Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Francis F.B. Mulbah, praised the strategy’s alignment with the National Development Plan, emphasizing the link between agriculture and climate change.
Ms. Josephine Poole, President of Gbarma CBOs in Gbarpolu County, highlighted the positive impact of ActionAid Liberia projects, which have enabled over 50 young women and girls in Gbarma District to pursue education and employment. She expressed hope for continued support from ActionAid in fighting poverty and injustices.
Madam Jesadeh G. Barzon, President of Rural Women in Grand Gedeh County, commended ActionAid for its dedication to uplifting the rights of women and marginalized groups, noting the organization’s significant presence and support in rural areas including hard-to-reach communities.
Madam Dwedwe Tarpeh, Program Officer at the Swedish Embassy, congratulated ActionAid Liberia for their impactful efforts and confirmed the embassy’s continued support in the work they do. She noted that, they have journeyed with AAL since their CSP I, CSP II and now CSP III. “I would like to thank the Government of Liberia for the clear alignment of its ARREST Agenda priorities with AAL’s CSP III, this will enable the smooth service delivery to the people of Liberia” she noted.
The strategy will also be launched in ActionAid Liberia’s regional offices in Bong, Gbarpolu, and Grand Gedeh. During the event,
ActionAid’s CSP III marks a significant step towards addressing gender disparities and climate change challenges in Liberia. The collaboration between government agencies, civil society, and international partners underscores a collective commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities for girls and women nationwide.
