-AFELL President Urges Gov’t and Liberians, As It Concludes 2025 Convention/Election.
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia: During the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) convention held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Cllr. Philomena Tugbe Williams, the President of AFELL, rallied the three branches of the Liberian government and Liberians in general to support the fight for justice and the rule of law.
Cllr. Williams called on the legislature, executive, and judiciary—as well as civil society organizations and the general public, to join AFELL in its mission to uphold the rule of law. Reiterating her appeal, she asserted, “Join us in the fight and rise up, rise up and strengthen the rule of law for justice.” AFELL is a nonpolitical, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization of women lawyers.
Highlighting AFELL’s achievements, Cllr. Williams revealed that between 2022 and 2024, the organization provided legal services to over 5,000 beneficiaries. These included 1,265+ mediations and 532+ court cases spanning rape, divorce, custody disputes, property rights, and gender-based violence, among others.
Additionally, AFELL conducted training for more than 360 judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, local government leaders, workers’ unions, and traditional women on the Domestic Violence Act and other legal frameworks. The organization also carried out extensive advocacy and civic education, reaching over 2,843 individuals in schools, churches, communities, concession-affected areas, and marketplaces to raise awareness about the criminal and legal justice systems.
Reaffirming AFELL’s dedication to its core mission, she stressed the importance of promoting peace, security, and human rights across Liberia. She urged fellow legal professionals to maintain the integrity of the institution by upholding principles of independence, impartiality, and accountability. “As a team of legal experts, let us protect the integrity of our institution. We must uphold at all times our code principles of independence, impartiality, and accountability to maintain the trust and overwhelming confidence of our beneficiaries seeking justice,” she asserted.
The AFELL president acknowledged that the impact of the organization’s vision and mission would not be possible without the support of key partners. She extended appreciation to the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights, the Tonny Foundation for Justice, the Dennis Institute Against Torture, UN Women, the Irish Embassy, and others for their continued collaboration.
Cllr. Williams also commended AFELL members for their pro bono legal services to women and children and praised Liberia’s Chief Justice and associate justices for their support. She further lauded her leadership team, including Vice President Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley and other officials, for their unwavering commitment.
She emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts to mentor female law students through its legal aid clinic. She expressed gratitude to the students while encouraging others to take advantage of the mentorship program to advance their legal careers.
The convention/election
The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) hosted its annual convention and officer elections under the theme: “Rising Together to Strengthen the Rule of Law for Justice.” The event brought together legal practitioners, government officials, and international partners to discuss challenges facing women and children in the justice system.
The newly elected AFELL leadership (2025) includes: President: Cllr. Philomena Tugbe Williams, 1st Vice President: Cllr. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley, 2nd Vice President: Cllr. Evelyn Lah Gongloe, Secretary General: Cllr. Sundaiway N. Amegashie, Treasurer: Cllr. Isabel B. Diggs and Chaplain: Cllr. Tonieh Talery Wiles.
Chief Justice Urges Vigilance
In a special statement, Liberia’s Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Young reflected on AFELL’s founding and expressed pride in its continued impact. She warned against complacency in the legal profession, and urged lawyers to remain diligent in their duties. “Let us never reach the point where we become indifferent to our responsibilities,” she said.
The Chief Justice emphasizing that women and children will always face systemic challenges. She cautioned legal practitioners against losing public trust, which could drive people toward unqualified alternatives. “There is so much we can achieve, even without financial resources,” she said and added that gender inequality persists due to deep-rooted societal structures but called for sustained efforts to drive change.
Government and UN Reaffirm Support for AFELL
Assistant Minister Ophelia Kennedy, representing the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, commended AFELL for its contributions to justice and peace. “We stand with initiatives that promote fairness and stability in Liberia,” she stated, encouraging members to persevere despite obstacles.
The UN Women Liberia representative (proxy) at the occasion pledged ongoing support for AFELL’s action plan and transitional justice efforts. “Our commitment remains unwavering, regardless of leadership changes,” she affirmed.
From her end, the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah appreciated the leadership considering its work with the House Gender Committee and her personally. She referenced how they have cordially worked, including during the review of the anti-FGM bill.
Like the President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Lisa Diasay, the President of the Female Journalist Association of Liberia, stressed that laws must be more than symbolic. “Our laws must not just exist on paper—we must demand implementation,”she said, and called for collective action. She also reaffirmed the Female Journalists Association of Liberia’s (FeJAL) solidarity with AFELL.
The Association of Female Lawyers (AFELL) was established on February 10, 1994, during the civil crisis as a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization duly incorporated under Liberian laws.
AFELL’s mission is to advocate for the promotion, protection, and advancement of the rights of women, children, and indigent persons. AFELL core units are the legal aid clinic and the Sexual Gender-based Violence (SGBV) unit.
As a membership-based, nonpolitical, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization of women lawyers, provides pro bono legal services for the benefit of marginalized women and disadvantaged children. AFELL has championed the advancement of access to justice to promote human rights issues, specifically targeting women and children as it relates to the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence, women’s participation in politics/leadership, gender insensitive laws reform, and child protection amongst others.
