The Women Non-Governmental Secretary (WONGOSOL) has held a one-day legislative dialogue with the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia.
The dialogue sought to promote and advance the rights of women and girls through advocacy and policy to enhance sexual reproductive health rights, gender-based violence, women political participation and women economic empowerment in Liberia.
The dialogue, which focused on key policy issues coming out of WONGOSOL’s coordination meetings and field visits as a result of changes to the New Elections Law affecting women’s participation in politics, Drug Law passed as billable and its effect on the population and how it undermines civil societies’ advocacy for non-billable offense issues around women peace and security, and how the Rape Law can be reviewed to become non-billable.
Speaking at the opening ceremony over the weekend at a local hotel in Sinkor, the Executive Director of WONGOSOL, Esther Davis Yango, stated that passing the Drug Law without the non-billable component poses a serious threat to the youthful population in the country.
Yango emphasized that the abuse of illicit drugs are destroying the children of Liberia, and that drug being a non-billable offense could help to curtail the importation of illicit drugs.
She maintained that the women of Liberia should stand up against drug being billable, in the fight to eradicate drug abuse in the nation.
According to her, it is painful when women go through nine months of pain and later see their children becoming victims to drugs.
Yango lamented that the drug law should be non-billable to protect the children of Liberia, noting that drug abuse is alarming across the country.
Meanwhile, Montserrado County’s district #4, Representative, Rustonlyn S. Dennis, said it is crucial for community dwellers to inform President George Manneh Weah about the impact of illicit drug abuse in their communities instead of lauding him.
Representative Dennis stated that informing President Weah directly on national issues affecting their communities will enhance the process to tackle drug abuse in the country.
For her part, Lofa County’s electoral district #2 Representative, Julie F. Wiah, said drug abuse has taken over a huge population of the youth in Liberia.
Representative Wiah noted that disadvantaged youths are now attacking cars carrying Representative plates plying streets.
She noted that the fight against drug abuse is a national emergency, and Liberian women should do everything possible to ensure that the drug law is passed with the non-billable provision.
She indicated that drug abuse enhances the issues surrounding rape in the country, despite the Rape Law.
Representative Wiah asserted that drug abuse plays a major role in the execution of rape.
In a related development, Gbarpolu County Senator, Botoe Kanneh, said women participation in electoral processes require financial support, especially during candidate registration time.
Senator Kanneh stated that women aspirants should endeavor to engage the electorate at all levels in order to get their support.
She noted that, if the drug law is passed as non-billable, it will not serve the intended purpose to curtail illicit drugs in the country.
She called on Liberian women to engage the Executive Branch of government constructively to ensure that the Drug Law is not billable.
Senator Kanneh emphasized that Liberian women should work together for more women to enter the National Legislature in the pending general and presidential elections in 2023.
The advocacy engagement with Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia was organized by WONGOSOL, with support from KVINNA.