The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, has by Proclamation declared Saturday, November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, the International Human Rights Day, to be observed throughout the territorial confines of the Republic as working holidays.
The Proclamation informs that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, being cognizant of the dates of International Day of Violence Against Women, International Human Rights Day, International Human Rights Defenders Day, World AIDS Day, International Day of Disabled Persons and the Anniversary of Montreal Massacre has agreed to jointly observe these occasions, through specially planned programs to further raise and strengthen the concepts being expressed for public consumption and participation.
According to a Foreign Ministry Release, the 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is a global campaign dedicated to end gender-based violence and highlight other significant dates such as November 25, International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women; November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day; December 1, World AIDS Day; December 3, International Day Of Disabled Persons; December 6, Anniversary Of The Montreal Massacre And December 10, International Human Rights Day.
According to the Proclamation, the 2023 campaign to end all forms of GBV will be celebrated under the global theme, “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls”, and the National Theme, “Empower Women, Secure Our Nation: Invest Locally to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls”.
The release further states that that in-door program commemorating the day will be held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, commencing at 11 o’clock ante meridian on Saturday, November 25, 2023, with His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia delivering a special message.
The Proclamation also notes that gender inequality is prevalent and manifested by high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy among youths, women and girls as well as high incidences of sexual and gender-based violence which, according to statistics, reveals that children are the most vulnerable in terms of these practices.
During the first women’s global leadership conference, sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) in 1991, the 25th Day of November was set aside to be observed each year as the International Day for the Elimination Of Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in recognition of violence against women as a human rights violation, and calling on governments to work towards its elimination, the Proclamation stated further.
