Women in political parties have been encouraged to uphold the peace particularly during election periods, to ensure that the country is peaceful and stable.
This patriotic plea was made on Thursday, August 16, 2022 by the Eminent Women of the Women Situation Room (WSR) at a one day dialogue and Networking session with women in politics, organized by the Angie Brooks International Centre.
The dialogue is under the project sustainable and inclusive peace in Liberia through promoting women leadership and participation in civic and political life and their strengthened role in conflict resolution.
The initiative is a flagship program of the ‘’Women Situation Room (WSR)” initiated by the Angie Brooks International Centre for women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security in partnership with ZOA-Liberia with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
The political parties women included women congress, youth leaders from the Vision for Liberia Transformation Party (VOLT), Liberia Transformation Party (LTP), National Patriotic Party (NPP), All Liberians Coalition Party (ALCOP), Vision for Change amongst others.
The program which was held in the Cecil Dennis Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together 80 participants including women from CSOs.
The Women made it known that it is essential for the women of the various political parties to be steadfast and get involved in initiative gear towards substantiating and safeguarding the country’s peace and democracy.
According to the participating women, protection of the peace of the country during the general and presidential elections is vital and and urged their colleagues to get involved in spreading the message of peace to the communities. They believe that democratization of the nation is forward instead of violence.
Speaking further in separate remarks, they vowed to create awareness among the youth with in their respective communities and political parties as well as their families on the impactf and benefits of upholding the peace of Liberia.
Additionally, they expressed gratitude to the Angie Brooks International Centre for the initiative and termed it as eye opening to them while indicating that family play the most critical role in mitigating violence in the country.
Speaking the Establishment Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Centre Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh said the impact of the engagement will go a long way on how women can politically strategize and place themselves in leadership positions in their various political parties.
“Know your power base women because you also control the youth. We need women in leadership. Know your party platform it helps you to know your like of authority.
“Take that scary part of you and put it behind you. You may not be educated but you have common sense. Women take your proper place and do what you suppose to do for your country”, Madam Wureh told the gathering.
She expressed that if women take on top leadership positions of the political parties their male counterparts will lack the ability to keep them down and said, “Women do not allow yourselves to be restricted to only women wing and chairlady posts.”
Dr. Chesson-Wureh was followed by the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, Cllr Frances Johnson –Allison, who pointed to electing people in the political positions such as president, vice president, senators and representatives is to protect the interest of the people and provide an enabling environment for the citizenry to live a decent live.
The Former Chairperson of the National Elections Commission called on the women of Liberia to make the rightful decision during the 2023 general and presidential elections.
