Elected and appointed women leaders in politics on Friday, August 30, 2024, organized a night-long networking – motivational dinner to enhance their capacity and inspire other women to join their leadership pool.
The event which was organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the women’s legislative caucus and UN-Women saw women from all hemispheres of leadership sharing their experiences as motivational factors to others.
The gathering, supported by the Governments of Liberia and Sweden, aims to encourage inter-ministerial and intergovernmental collaboration among women leaders by strengthening solidarity and providing opportunities for mentorship and mutual support and also seeks to empower women to advance in leadership roles across all levels of government.
In a motivational address delivered by Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Dabah Mabande Varpilah admonished women not to listen to detractors to quit their dreams. But to be stubborn to achieve their dreams. “Don’t Listen to them. Continue to push till you achieve your dreams.” Senator Varpilah stated. The senator continued by admonishing women to always be present at leadership discussions to have their voices heard. She asserted that gender equality in leadership will not be achievable if women are always at the back when a decision is being made. “Be present always at the point of decision-making, because no one will go for you at the back to have you at the table. We cannot gender equality in leadership while you are at the back whenever a decision is taken.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Honorable Gbeme Horace-Kollie
intimated that the gathering is to strengthen solidarity and provide opportunities for mentorship and mutual support, asserting that the initiative seeks to empower women to advance in leadership roles across all levels of government.
The minister revealed that the Ministry, along with its partners, is committed to advocating for a more inclusive political landscape in Liberia, where women can fully participate in shaping the nation’s future.
Therefore, asserted that the event was a crucial step in building the networks and alliances necessary to achieve this goal.
In furtherance, she added that despite Liberia’s commitment to gender equality as a signatory to several international and regional agreements, the underrepresentation of women in elected and appointed positions remains a pressing issue, as women hold just 11% (11 of 103) seats in the Liberian Legislature, 30% of ministerial positions (6 of 20) and 31% (19 of 62) deputy minister positions and 26% (25 of 95) assistant minister positions.
She continued by stating that although women are 40% (6 of 15) county superintendents, all women make up just 11% of local statutory leadership positions. Something she described as a stark gender imbalance that highlights the need for ongoing advocacy and reform. However, she provided that there has been some progress in the Executive branch, with President Joseph Boakai ensuring 30% women in his cabinet, and with women holding key ministerial and deputy minister positions.
She added that this achievement is commendable and reflects the administration’s commitment to gender equality. Yet, it also underscores the persistent challenges that women face in attaining leadership roles, particularly at the local government level and in other areas of public service.
She intimated that Liberia’s obligations as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations include promoting gender balance in all spheres of public life, including elected and appointed positions.
She added that these commitments are enshrined in instruments such as the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol).
In furtherance, she asserted that despite these commitments, the representation of women in decision-making roles remains disproportionately low. Therefore, she wants women leaders to promote a new dimension of engagement and networking amongst women leaders.
