IPNEWS: More than 40 representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), women’s rights groups, gender advocates, and key national institutions have completed a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening coordination and advocacy for increased women’s political participation in Liberia.
Jointly organized by UN Women and UNDP under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), the training was supported by the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, with technical assistance from the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
The workshop gathered participants from the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL), the Law Reform Commission (LRC), the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, youth and disability organizations, and election observers. It focused on enhancing knowledge, practical advocacy skills, and strategic coordination to promote women’s leadership and political inclusion.
Expert Insights and Interactive Learning
Mr. Maarten Halff, Senior Political Affairs Officer and Electoral Systems Expert at the UN EAD in New York, facilitated virtual sessions on Obstacles to Women’s Participation in Liberia: An Analysis of the 2023 Results, Quotas in Context: An ABC of Electoral Systems, and Quotas and Quotas in the Liberian Context: Options and Implications.
These sessions provided comparative insights into how gender quotas function across different electoral systems and their potential to enhance women’s representation in Liberia.
Additional sessions were led by Ms. Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, an international consultant from Zimbabwe, and Mr. Zage Filiposki, UNDP Liberia Electoral Specialist, using the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) curriculum.
Topics included Women’s Participation in Politics: Targets and Numbers, Sex and Gender Definitions, Equality, Level Playing Field, and International Standards of Elections, Advocacy, Campaigning, and Lobbying for Women’s Political Empowerment and Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Mapping, and Message Delivery Methods.
Voices of Leadership and Commitment
During the opening session, Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye of the NEC described the training as “a decisive step toward a more inclusive and democratic Liberia where women’s voices are heard and respected,” reaffirming NEC’s commitment to enforcing inclusive laws.
Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh, Chairperson of the WLCL, emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration. “We must strengthen civil society to advocate for gender equality and increased women’s political participation. Continuous coordination is essential to build political will ahead of the 2029 elections.”
Counsellor T. Celestine H. Howard of the LRC urged participants to go beyond quota advocacy and focus on building practical political and campaigning skills. “Achieving a gender quota alone is not enough to ensure equality and equal participation for women in politics.”
Mr. Louis Kuukpen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes, applauded participants’ dedication and emphasized that gender equality is a shared responsibility. “We are not asking for too much. We are asking that a system that has not been fair, due to cultural, political, and economic reasons, be reset. We are not begging but are asking that the right thing be done,” he stressed.
Kuukpen proposed the establishment of a reference group or network to sustain collaboration and advocacy efforts.
Ms. Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Country Representative, praised the strong engagement and partnerships throughout the workshop. “Liberia has offered the world much and can offer much more when it comes to political representation. Let’s hope that by 2029, we will not only have 11% of women in the legislature, but at least 30%,” She noted.
Ms. Lamptey also commended CSOs for their powerful advocacy during the 2023 elections, which helped elevate women’s leadership and political violence to national attention.
Katherine Green, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, reaffirmed the commitment of UNDP and UN Women to gender inclusion. “Promoting women’s political participation is not only a constitutional imperative but also aligned with international human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals,” She stated.
A Shared Path Forward
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment from all partners to promote inclusive electoral reforms and ensure meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes. Participants expressed interest in establishing a CSO coordination platform to sustain joint advocacy and collaboration.
The Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. It is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the NEC, with funding from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.
