Yesterday the women of Liberia gathered to officially sign the book of condolence for the Late Roseline Toweh, a peace activist and women and girls advocate. The signing of the book of condolence which opened Monday, will continue till the weekend Friday, June 15, 2022.
Many prominent women, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olubanke King Akerele, former Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister, Julia Duncan-Cassell, former Education Minister, Evelyn Kandakai, among several grassroots women from across the country, were in attendance.
The women, in their sober mood at the signing ceremony, paid driving tributes to the fallen colleague, describing her as a great loss to the nation: she was a patriot and nationalist who, until her passing, preached the message of peace and stood tall for women and girls’ rights.
Roseline Toweh died on June 18, 2022 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital in Congo Town. She was the National Coordinator of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), as well as an Eminent Woman of the Women’s Situation Room (WSR).
She headed the Liberian Women Mass Action for Peace, and recently read the position statement of the Women’s Mass Action for Peace during the closure of a 14-day fast and prayers, which called the attention of the government and other relevant parties to take all necessary steps to preserve the peace.
In her welcoming remarks, the National President of YWCA, Helen Bassey, thanked the women for coming, saying Roseline was like a friend to everybody and will be remembered for her role in ensuring that the peace of Liberia is sustained, adding that her outstanding advocacy on behalf of the women and girls of Liberia was selfless.
Helen Bassey was followed by the Forum of Liberian Women Elders, represented by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Olubanke King Akerele, who said the death of Toweh was shocking, barely days after the closure of the Liberia Women Mass Action for Peace’s fast and prayer, which the late Roseline Toweh led.
The Chairperson of the Board of the Women’s Situation Room disclosed that a transient referral hub for women in crisis at Ma Mary’s will be established in preserving the legacy of Roseline Toweh.
Speaking in a brief interview, the Establishment Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Center for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, Cllr. Cyvette Chesson-Wreh, said the late Roseline Toweh was an eminent woman from the very start of the war-room of the Women’s Situation Room.
She stated, “The late Madam Toweh has been with us in several meetings of the WSR concerning the peace of this country. She was always there for the youth. That has been her focus. She always paved her way to connect with the youth.” Speaking further, Dr. Chesson-Wreh encouraged the women of Liberia to remember that peace is in their hands; as such, all must come together to keep the peace of the country, which she said Toweh fought for.
Frances R. Deigh Greaves, former National Chairman Civil Society Council, told the gathering that late Roseline Toweh was an astute woman who took initiative. Roseline, according to her, was part of many national and international organizations who led the voices of women to where it could not reach. “She was the voice of the young people,” Greaves stated, mentioning that she empathized with the young people.