- VP Howard-Taylor Addresses She4She Champions World Summit
Belmopan, Belize Sunday, March 6, 2022)-The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, has addressed the first-ever “She4She Champions” World Summit on March 5, 2022, in Belize, according to a dispatch.
The Summit was borne out of the personal vision of Her Lordship Sheran Palacio, Mayor of the City of Belmopan, Belize, which ushered in the convergence of women and girls from across the globe to commemorate International Women’s Month, and dialogue on issues about women and girls’ empowerment, gender equality, female leadership, and political participation.
Delivering the Keynote address on the topic: “Why Women Matters,” Madam Vice President proffered that women matters in leadership to ensure fairness, full participation, to reflect female priorities, accelerate national development, provide platforms for women, enhance democratic tenets, create space for diverging views, and to ensure equity.
The Vice President intimated that as women collaborate to change the dynamics of the women’s movement for increased participation, there must be deliberate efforts to make a resounding call to their male counterparts to stop the biases against women’s leadership.
Madam Howard-Taylor emphasized that the Summit is a historical and critical point of reflection while recounting the history of women’s empowerment and equality.
She reminded the audience that it had been 47 years since the United Nations held its first conference on women in Mexico, followed by the Beijing conference, which produced the blueprint of women’s equality worldwide, but lamented that women’s participation remains low across the globe.
Vice President Howard-Taylor stressed that Women’s full participation remains a necessity because the choices of life as being made for humanity, which are decided through the voices and votes of our representatives, must be reflective of the participation of both genders through numbers; and that these numbers should exemplify the configuration of our societies in a way which showcases both genders.
At the end of her splendid presentation, Madam Vice President was given the baton as a She4She Champion and responsible for hosting the next She4She Champions World Summit in Monrovia, Liberia.
Meanwhilethe Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Chief Dr. Cllr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, on Friday, March 4, 2022, paid a courtesy visit with the Prime Minister of Belize, Honorable John Briceno.
The two leaders, according to a dispatch, emphasized establishing bilateral relations between Liberia and Belize.
Madam Vice President highlighted that both Nations have unique similarities relative to diversity in culture and languages.
She also pointed out that the two Nations have extreme biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems, with ideal locations along the coast, making them attractive for tourism.
The Vice President then called for economic cooperation between Liberia and Belize in the Tourism Industry while commending the leadership of Belize in maximizing its potential in the tourism sector.
In his response, Prime Minister Briceno committed to establishing Honorary Consulate in Liberia and will forward a Diplomatic Note to the effect.
The meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere as both leaders affirmed their commitment to open a new diplomatic front.
In a related development, the Liberian Vice President also held talks with Lord Mayor Benard Wagner of Belize City on establishing people-to-people relationships, which last beyond borders.
Mayor Wagner officially welcomed Madam Vice President to Belize City.
Therefore, the Vice President expressed gratitude for the resounding welcome and extended him an invitation, on behalf of Lord Mayor Jefferson Koijee, to attend the 175th Independence Celebrations in Liberia; as part of the commemoration of the Bicentennial.
The two meetings were held before the official opening of the “She4She Champions” World Summit on March 5, 2022, when Liberia’s first female Vice President will deliver the Keynote address.
