The Women Legislative Caucus on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 held a one-day discussion with political parties, civil society organizations, student groups, rights activists and women organizations on Capitol Hill on the Electoral Reform Law. Members of the House’s Committees on Good Governance, Judiciary and Gender and Children attended the public hearing.
Section 4.5c of the Electoral Reform Law states, “A list of candidates to be submitted to the Election Commission for an election should endeavor to have no less than 30% of the candidates on the list for each gender.” The women caucus says they want for the section to be amended, reading, “A list of candidates submitted to the Commission for an election shall have no less than 30% of the candidates from each gender.”
The amendment to the new electoral law also include section 4.5d, which states, “A political party or coalition shall have at least one woman contestant for the primary at the convention for each constituency it nominates a candidate.” However, the women legislative caucus suggested that the clause be amended to “A political party or coalition, whose list from its convention or primary does not satisfy the required quota for gender, shall be rejected by the National Elections Commission (NEC) upon submission and the affected party may be entitled to re-submission within the required period.”
Speaking during the hearing, the House’s Committee Chairman on Good Governance, Nimba County’s district #8 Representative, Larry Younquoi, pledged his support for the amendment to the electoral law which, in his mind, seeks to protect women’s interest.
He emphasized that the passage of the amendment should not make women to be relaxed; instead, they should be strong enough and compete with their male counterparts. He vowed to give his one vote for the amendment whenever the instrument is placed on the agenda for deliberation.
The House’s Co-Chair on Judiciary, Lofa County Representative, Beayan Howard, noted that despite of the amendment Liberian women need to play a more robust role in getting what they want at the national level. He, too, vowed to support the passage of the amendment to the Electoral Reform Law.