As women are made up of half of the population of Liberia, President Joseph N. Boakai has pledged strong support toward women empowerment in his administration; writes Ojuku Silver-tongue Kangar, Jr.
“Women need attention, are part of the society and will be empowered,” President Boakai said when he met scores of Liberian women at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex before the 177th Independence anniversary. They were represented each by sector, and presented their case to the President for empowerment implementation.
Meeting with the women was the fulfilment of the President’s citizens engagement ritual for the 177th Independence anniversary commemoration. As a tradition of sitting Liberian Presidents during the festive season, the President meets with citizens from diverse backgrounds of the society, including religious community, people with disability, the hospital, and makes assorted donation, and so on.
The women, who thronged the first floor of the Ministerial Complex, called for more women empowerment in the Judiciary, security, education, agriculture, and so on. They called for empowerment in the tourism sector, implementation of targeted program that will encourage women training and participation in various roles–ranging from leadership positions to the business venture, among others.
They added that empowerment will make them independent economically and contribute to the society, and requested for fair labor for equal participation.
They added that education commitment is needed to advance education for girls and women across the nation to break the barrier of male domination in the education sector by providing scholarships and reducing school fees across the country, especially at the secondary level.
“We want development of a gender-sensitive curriculum to integrate gender awareness in schools, and so on,” the women said.
For a formidable judicial system, the women called for comprehensive reform to the rule of law to strengthen gender equality and women empowerment.
“We demand reform that prohibits gender discrimination, including gender law, public health law, and women’s productive health,” they stated, urging the President to act.
They called on the President to establish the legal quota for gender equality for the Executive and Judiciary leaders, enforcement of the land rights law and the local government act, improving the training of security and judicial personnel to recognize and promote the judicial gender vital.
For road and infrastructure, they called for gender-sensitive improvement in that sector, and asked for commitment to ensure safe, accessible transportation that enhances women mobility. They observed that it will enable a better access to education, employment, market, healthcare, and so on, and that use of road and all public transportation be prioritized.
For women’s agriculture promotion, they called for the implementation of the land rights law and implementation of women’s land.
“Women in agriculture do not have land to produce food. Agriculture is an engine of every country’s economy. Secure training for agribusiness development, especially for women to enhance productivity for economic independence,” they advanced.
They cried on the President to reduce school fees that are skyrocketing, especially at the secondary level, which they said is straining and impeding their children’s education.
Meanwhile, the President accepted all their request, voluminous in nature, and promised to fulfil them gradually, noting that there are problems at every sector of the society that need holistic address.
In attendance at the program were Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh, Senate Pro Tempore, and other Liberian women.
