Liberia
Liberia
Women in Liberia were powerful non-violent activists during the years of the the Second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003), and have led the efforts to rebuild their country through empowering women to participate in politics and peace processes.
Under the presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa, Liberia has developed a National Action Plan on the implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000), and began a constitutional review process in 2015 that many hoped would outlaw discrimination against women.
However, traditional and cultural practices perpetuate gender inequality through today, exacerbated by the de-prioritization of the gender equality agenda following the Ebola epidemic. Women community leaders were instrumental in stopping the spread of the Ebola virus in 2014, during which women paid a particularly high price— three in four Ebola deaths were women, due to their traditional roles of caregivers (Liberian Ministry of Health).
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for the Security Council’s continued support for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in the effort to mainstream the women, peace and security agenda across its entire operation, giving special attention to sexual and gender-based violence.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Liberia (August 2015)
The Council is expected to consider a final report on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). In the context of the security situation, forthcoming elections, and the continuing risk of an Ebola outbreak, it is essential that the Council ensures gender is incorporated in the reporting on the drawdown of the mission. In this respect, the Council should:
- Ensure that UNMIL’s efforts to develop the capacity of Liberian institutions are gender-sensitive, including addressing SGBV and SEA. Additionally, UNMIL, in order to fully implement resolution 1325 (2000), should ensure the prioritization of women’s representation and participation at all levels in the constitution-drafting process, the electoral system, the security sector and the judiciary;
- Ensure that gender is being mainstreamed across all reintegration, post-conflict recovery, and peacebuilding processes, including promoting education and vocational training for women and girls associated with armed groups in reintegration efforts. Survivors of SGBV must, additionally, be given full access to post-conflict relief and recovery programs;
- Reinforce in its discussion the consolidation of gains for women in the transition and drawdown process and urge Member States to provide resources to support this consolidation;
- Inquire as to efforts by the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) to ensure their work is gender-sensitive, addressing the unique social and economic impacts for women in addition to the need to strengthen critical health systems, and collect and utilize sex-and-age disaggregated data.
The Council is expected to consider a final report on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). In the context of the security situation, forthcoming elections, and the continuing risk of an Ebola outbreak, it is essential that the Council ensures gender is incorporated in the reporting on the drawdown of the mission. In this respect, the Council should:
- Ensure that UNMIL’s efforts to develop the capacity of Liberian institutions are gender-sensitive, including addressing SGBV and SEA. Additionally, UNMIL, in order to fully implement resolution 1325 (2000), should ensure the prioritization of women’s representation and participation at all levels in the constitution-drafting process, the electoral system, the security sector and the judiciary;
- Ensure that gender is being mainstreamed across all reintegration, post-conflict recovery, and peacebuilding processes, including promoting education and vocational training for women and girls associated with armed groups in reintegration efforts. Survivors of SGBV must, additionally, be given full access to post-conflict relief and recovery programs;
- Reinforce in its discussion the consolidation of gains for women in the transition and drawdown process and urge Member States to provide resources to support this consolidation;
- Inquire as to efforts by the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) to ensure their work is gender-sensitive, addressing the unique social and economic impacts for women in addition to the need to strengthen critical health systems, and collect and utilize sex-and-age disaggregated data.
Relevant Resources
