An old-aged problem of Liberian women being at the button of leadership since the formation of the nation, which has subjected them to bearing children and being in the chicken, has died a natural death, as they joined their counterparts to celebrate International Women’s Day with a mandate.
“We want to come on the table to be heard. We aare tired of being at the back of decision-making,” they said, recounting the number of years they have been suppressed by their male counterparts in leadership. “Angie Brooks brought light to us by educating us to know our rights in the society. Women are now town chiefs, commissioners, superintendents, etc., which was forbidden for years,” they added.
They outlined arrays of necessities as challenges preventing them from coming to the table of leadership: vocational schools to provide them skills, not academically inclined, fear to fail when taking part in elections, husbands and traditional suppressions, etc.
The Angie Brooks International Center for Women Empowerment and Peace Building, on the observance of the International Women’s Day, assembled group of women, who marched from Broad Street to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for an in-door program.
The International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It also marks all the action for celebrating gender parity. Its theme for this year is “#Break the Bias”.
At the ministry, the women held an open forum, in which several of them expressed themselves. Opening the forum, Dr. Yvette Chesson, Establishment Coordinator of Angie Brooks International, lauded the women’s resilience and tenacity, adding that it is about time that women have full-scale leadership ability in the society and the world at large to make things right. She urged them to reveal the nightmares preventing them from coming on the table.
The women’s representatives, who came from several parts of the counties, lauded Angie Brooks for what they termed “opening their eyes” to be on the table of leadership in every sector of Liberia. To be predominant on the table of decision-making, they outlined fear of failure, lack of fund and unity among them.
“We women are problems for ourselves. If one woman has an opportunity, she doesn’t want her friends to take part,” New Kru Town women’s representative said.
“Sometimes we fear to fail, and to be called prostitute and all kinds of names. We don’t love one another,” they said in uniformity.
However, a 55-year-old woman, who just graduated from high school, expressed desire to get help from the organization to seek higher education in order to become a medical doctor, but some of her friends laughed, saying she likes fun.
“We will help you out. At your age to graduate from high school is a high determination on your part,” Olubanke King-Akelere, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Board of Angie Brooks International, said. “We heard lot of things from you people today, and we will find a solution. I thank you all for the program and considered your plights”.
The International Women’s Day, annually celebrated on March 8, is intended to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and fundraise for gender-focus charities. It was first celebrated in 1911. It has three colors: purple, which signifies justice and dignity; green, symbolizing hope; and white, representing purity. The colors originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908.
