The He-For-She Crusaders Liberia, through its National Coordinator, Tamba F.J. Johnson, is calling for more men engagement to ensure that Liberians, women and men, support women vying for the pending by-elections scheduled to take place in November 2021 in Bomi, Bong, Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties.
According to Johnson, women’s faces are usually increased during national events and not their voices at decision making processes; as such, their representation in peace and security is gravely undermined.
He disclosed that Liberia is far below the threshold of the 30% set by the UN for state parties to consider for women inclusion at all levels.
Currently, women’s representation at the Senate is at 2, constituting 6.66% against 28 males, and 6 at the House of Representative, constituting 8.21% to that of 67 males, lest talking about appointed positions at ministerial and local levels.
Tamba stated that though Liberia is enjoying a fragile peace, this peace must consider the culture of equality, not necessarily equity. Liberia under the watch of “A He-for-She Champion and a Feminist-in-Chief” must consider women empowerment, equal representation and participation.
Tamba lamented, “Let this year be the turning point for women’s equal representation.”
This year’s celebration of International Men’s Day was held under the Global theme, “Better Relations between Men and Women”, with a national theme, “Together, Let Us Build a Better Relationship between Men and Women for a Healthy Society”.
Considering this call to action, Johnson is urging President George M. Weah, who has repeatedly committed himself to women inclusion and protection as a priority of his government, to engage more men to support women election during this by-election.
Finally, the advocacy group is equally calling on women to support women and stop the backbiting, noting that women constitute over 51% of the Liberian population, and there is no reason why they should be underrepresented.