– AFELL President Assures at the Association’s Leadership Induction
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia: The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) inaugurated its partly re-elected leadership in a solemn ceremony held at the Temple of Justice on Friday, May 30, 2025. In her inaugural address, the reelected and second time sworn-in President Cllr. Philomena Tugbe Williams pledged to intensify the organization’s fight for gender equality and children’s rights while honoring the legacy of past leaders who laid the foundation for AFELL’s impactful work.
Her words: “AFELL Will raise its advocacy and legal representation on the welfare and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. Through our advocacy and the assistance of our partners, the Juvenile Court was established in Monsterrado County. Though a significant achievement, juvenile delinquents are sadly being placed in surrounding jail cells with hardened adult criminals and complain of horrible detention conditions.”
Cllr. Williams reaffirmed AFELL’s dedication to its five-year strategic plan, promising aggressive advocacy to eliminate gender-based violence, promote equitable participation for women, and uphold the rule of law. “We will not relent until every woman and child in Liberia enjoys the full protection of justice,” she vowed. Undoubtedly, this is backed by the fact that gender disparities persist across various aspects of life in Liberia. On the Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) in 2024, Liberia is ranked 42nd out of 146 countries with a score of 0.754 with slight percentage points decrease since the previous edition of the GGI.
Sketching her leadership’s vision
Outlining her administration’s vision, Williams declared AFELL’s unwavering commitment to eradicating sexual and gender-based violence, which remains rampant in Liberia. She condemned practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing them as violent and unjustifiable under the guise of culture. “Cutting and slicing the clitoris of a woman or girl has no meaningful value—it is harmful, unhealthy, and a form of violence,” she asserted.
Cllr. Williams disclosed that AFELL will work closely with the Ministry of Gender and the Women’s Legislative Caucus to push for laws that criminalize FGM without exceptions. Turning to children’s rights, she expressed grave concern over the widespread neglect, abuse, and exploitation of minors in Liberia. She lamented that schools, churches, and homes—places meant to nurture—have instead become sites of violence and trauma for many children.
AFELL, she vowed, will also expand civic education campaigns across communities, schools, and religious institutions to promote awareness of the 2011 Children’s Law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The organization will also collaborate with the Ministry of Justice to ensure perpetrators of child abuse face the full force of the law.
On juvenile justice, Cllr. Williams acknowledged progress with the establishment of a Juvenile Court in Montserrado County but criticized the continued detention of minors alongside adult criminals in deplorable conditions. She called on the government to build rehabilitation-focused facilities that meet international standards, emphasizing the need for a system that prioritizes the welfare and reintegration of young offenders rather than punishment.
Upholding the rule of law:
Cllr. Williams also stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law, warning against the politicization of legal disputes. She reminded attendees that Liberia’s peace and stability depend on respect for judicial authority, urging leaders at all levels to adhere to legal principles. “Whether you are the President of Liberia or the President of AFELL, the law binds us all,” she stated. In an appeal for gender parity, Cllr. Williams praised the current composition of the Supreme Court, which includes three female justices, and called on President Joseph Boakai to appoint another woman upon Chief Justice Yuoh’s retirement. “What a man can do, a woman can do better,” she declared, drawing applause from the audience.
Expressing gratitude, Cllr. Williams acknowledged AFELL’s key partners, including the Clooney Foundation for Justice, DIGNITY, OHCHR, and UN Women, whose support enabled the organization to assist over 5,000 women and children between 2022 and 2024. She also commended Liberia’s judiciary, particularly Chief Justice Sie-Nyene Yuoh and Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie, for their pivotal role in expediting justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
The head of the female lawyers of Liberia highlighted the judiciary’s efforts in speeding up trials for Persistent-Non-Support cases, which have brought relief to many vulnerable women and children. She urged Chief Justice Yuoh to continue her pro-bono legal services even after retirement, emphasizing the enduring need for experienced voices in the fight for justice.
At the same time, Cllr. Williams paid tribute to the late Cllr. Zeor Bernard, AFELL’s former president, whose unwavering dedication to justice transformed countless lives. She recounted Bernard’s fearless advocacy, from providing legal aid in remote communities like Gbapolu to securing justice for marginalized women and children. A moment of silence followed in honor of Bernard and other departed members, with a prayer for their eternal peace.
Recommending the need for More efforts:
At the induction, Liberia’s Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh urged members of AFELL to activate renewed commitment to protecting women and children’s rights.
The Chief Justice rallied the female lawyers to work cordially with AFELL’s leadership and continue to be more active in this organization, noting, “There’s much to do. Let us join and continue to be more active in this organization. We have so much to give. Having knowledge of the law and the procedures when it comes to these matters affecting females and children and indigent persons in our society,” Yuoh said.
Also, Comfort Lamptey, the UN Women-Liberja Country Representative urged the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), to consider providing legal literacy for Liberia’s rural women, declaring that justice cannot be truly accessible until every woman understands her basic rights. “It will be important for AFELL to increase your footprint in rural Liberia by incorporating locally based female lawyers in your membership and in addition you could consider providing legal literacy to uneducated women and girls,” Madam Lamptey proposed.
From convention/election to induction:
The recently sworn-in leadership of AFELL includes Cllr. Philomena Tugbe Williams who maintains her role as President, with Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley serving as 1st Vice President and Cllr. Evelyn Lah Gongloe taking office as 2nd Vice President. The executive committee was completed with Cllr. Sundaiway N. Amegashie as Secretary General, Cllr. Isabel B. Diggs as Treasurer, and Cllr. Tonieh Talery Wiles serving as Chaplain.
The induction followed their successful election to the various posts at AFELL’s annual convention and officer elections on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill, Monrovia. It can be referenced that Cllr. Philomena T. Williams and Cllr. Bouwoulo Taylor Kelley won their first term as President and Vice President, respectively, in a tough race during AFELL’s election on Friday, December 10, 2021. Other members elected unopposed on white ballots at the time include Deddeh K. Zaza as 2nd Vice President, Yeahnee King-Allen as Secretary General, Cllr. Isabel B. Diggs as Treasurer, and Margaret M. Nigba as Chaplain.
At the last convention in April, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) also recognized and honored several distinguished female legal professionals for their exceptional contributions to the association and the broader legal community. The ceremony featured two categories of prestigious awards celebrating years of dedicated service and outstanding leadership.
A Journey Since 1994:
Established on February 10, 1994, during Liberia’s devastating civil crisis, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has grown into a formidable force for justice and gender equality. Incorporated as a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization under Liberian laws, AFELL was born from the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations when the country’s legal system was in disarray.
At its core, AFELL exists to advocate for the promotion, protection, and advancement of the rights of women, children, and indigent persons across Liberia. The organization fulfills this mission through two primary operational units: its Legal Aid Clinic which provides crucial pro bono legal services, and its dedicated Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) unit that combats the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls.
As a membership-based organization comprised of Liberia’s female legal professionals, AFELL has distinguished itself through its unwavering commitment to offering free legal representation to society’s most marginalized groups. Beyond individual cases, the organization has become a national leader in systemic legal reform, particularly in areas affecting women and children.
Throughout its three decades of operation, AFELL has championed numerous critical initiatives that have reshaped Liberia’s legal landscape. The organization has been instrumental in pushing for gender-sensitive law reforms, advocating for greater women’s participation in politics and leadership roles, strengthening child protection mechanisms, and leading the fight against all forms of gender-based violence. These efforts have significantly expanded access to justice for populations that traditionally faced exclusion from Liberia’s legal system.
