Liberia: “The Power and Potential Women Hold”

Before former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia, traditional women like Setta Fofana were not allowed to serve as County Coordinators and district heads.

Sirleaf, Liberia’s and Africa’s first female president, was able to convince traditional leaders to conduct an election wherein three slots were exclusively for women. Through this strategy, Setta became the National County Coordinator for the Chiefs and Elders, a position that was once occupied by men.

“Today I am brave enough to stand among people to talk,” Fofana said in her remarks at the International Women’s Day official celebration. “I am traveling from country to country to discuss women’s issues. Mama Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, women are praying may God bless her and give her good health.”

Popularly known as the “Iron Lady”, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served from 2006 to 2018. During her presidency, she led the country through recovery after the 14-year civil war and championed policies and laws, including the 2005 Rape Law, which declared statutory rape or sexual intercourse with minors a non-bailable offense.

Sirleaf's ascendancy was an inspiration for Fofana and many others around the world, who were once denied leadership positions because of their gender. International Women’s Day is a global celebration that highlights the impact of Sirleaf, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Madam Leymah R. Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen in 2011. 

Every year, advocates and activists championing women’s empowerment gather to celebrate Sirleaf and other women for breaking the glass ceiling in politics, technology, and other sectors that have been primarily dominated by women. 

This year’s celebration is held under the global theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” with a National Theme: “Empower Her, Empower All”.

According to Kartumu Boakai, the First Lady of Liberia, the theme is a call to action to invest more in women. “As we reflect on the sacrifices and triumphs of women throughout history, we are reminded of the power and potential that women hold within themselves,” she said in her keynote address. 

“Our commitment to gender parity is echoed in the victories of our own Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president and Nobel Peace laureate, alongside Madam Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen. These women, like many before and among us, have paved the way toward a future where our daughters can dream without boundaries.”

She pledged to ensure that women’s empowerment and advancement are key to her husband, President Joseph Boakai.

“We will intensify our collaboration with relevant institutions to secure the necessary support for programs aimed at enhancing the living standards of women, fostering education for women and girls, improving reproductive health services, and ensuring the active involvement of women in all spheres of society, especially in political leadership.”

The program contained speeches, commitments, and calls to advance women’s leadership. Traditional attires were displayed, while Women from various ministries, agencies, One UN representative, and Civil Society Organizations were in attendance, including the Female Journalists Association of Liberia.

Christine Umutoni, UN Resident Coordinator, urged young girls to not be deterred by discrimination, fear, or anything that will drive them into drugs, and prostitution.

“Fight for your rights. For every woman at the table, please raise your voice for every young girl,” she added. 

According to Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Country Representative, women remain responsible for the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work — which remains undervalued and unrecognized, despite its immeasurable contribution to the formal economy. “We also know women and girls — especially the poorest among them and those experiencing multiple forms of discrimination — are more likely to experience violence, oppression, and marginalization.”

She added that, although Liberia has made progress towards gender equality, more needs to be done. “On the Gender Inequality Index, Liberia is ranked 164^th out of 191 countries. Gender inequality in Liberia persists in almost every aspect of social, cultural, economic, and political life.” 

“As much as we are aware that these inequalities exist, presenting the picture of women and girls’ poverty is extremely difficult in Liberia because of the absence of accurate, up-to-date gender data in Liberia.”

According to her, increasing the production and use of gender data is critical for poverty eradication. “Significant investments are needed to strengthen the capacity of LISGIS and other government institutions to collect, analyze, disseminate, and use gender data to address gendered poverty and promote sustainable, equitable development in Liberia.”

Banica Elliott, President Federation of Liberia Youth, called for more efforts to ensure that girls' education is promoted. 

“As we talk about women’s empowerment we should remember that it is our responsibility to reduce the number of young women who are going into prostitution simply because they cannot cater to their livelihood,” Elliott said. 

The working holiday ended with a fun meet and greet with key personalities including Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Chair of the Women Legislative Caucus and Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, and Laura Golakeh, Deputy Minister for Gender, MGCSP. 

Others include MacDella Cooper, senior political advisor to President Boakai; Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection; Stephenie Dahn Koung, Second Lady; and Rep. Moima Briggs-Mensah, House of Representatives Committee Chair on Gender. 

Why International Women’s Day

March 8, was declared by the United Nations (UN) as the International Women's Day to celebrate how far women have come in society, politics, and economics. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and the right to vote. The Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman's Day a year later.

The idea to make the day international came from a woman called Clara Zetkin. She suggested the idea in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed on her suggestion unanimously. It was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.

Things were made official in 1975 when the United Nations started celebrating the day. The first theme adopted by the UN (in 1996) was “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future”. International Women’s Day has become a date to celebrate how far women have come in society, politics, and economics, while the political roots of the day mean strikes and protests are organized to raise awareness of continued inequality.