… Brief Background on Gender Equality
In an effort to advance gender equality in Liberia, medica Liberia (mL) has made several recommendations to the Liberian Government headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. President Boakai addressed the nation on Monday January 27, 2025, detailing progress and challenges. However, it was his remarks on gender equality that caught the attention of many, including the women advocacy group, Medica Liberia.
Medica Liberia, a leading organization dedicated to the promotion of women’s rights and health, had been following President Boakai’s initiatives and policies closely. They recognized the progress made in some areas as announced by the Liberian Chief Executive but were also deeply aware of the significant gaps that still needed to be addressed.
In its recommendations contained in a statement following the President’s SONA, medica Liberia calls on the government to take concrete and deliberate actions to strengthen GBV response mechanisms with increased funding for shelters, legal aid, and survivor support services.
The group also called on the government to commit to legal reforms that ensure effective prosecution of GBV cases and prevent impunity and implement gender-responsive budgeting across sectors to sustain investment in women’s economic empowerment.
Also, expand access to sexual and reproductive health services through a nationally funded mechanism. Prioritize girls’ education by establishing scholarships, mentorship programs, and improved school infrastructure and promote women’s political participation through gender quotas and electoral reforms.
According to medica Liberia, while Liberia has made strides in some areas of gender equality, the State of the Nation Address fails to provide a comprehensive and sustained approach to addressing gender inequality.
Medica Liberia says “Without stronger policy commitment, increased funding, and national ownership, progress in gender equality may remain vulnerable, undermining efforts to achieve lasting change for women and girls in Liberia.”
“The SONA presented a broad overview of Liberia’s progress, but it falls short of fully addressing gender inequality and sexual and gender-based violence. While acknowledging women’s leadership and providing funding for empowerment projects, the government failed to propose substantial reforms to combat systemic barriers facing women and girls.
The absence of clear legislative commitments on GBV laws, reproductive health services, and closing the economic gender gap raises concerns about the government’s dedication to gender justice,” the organization said in a statement.
Gender Issues in the State of the Nation Address: According to medica Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) touched on several gender-related issues, specifically under the section titled “Social Protection: Gender and Children.” Among the highlights, women occupy 39% of ministerial roles and 31% of deputy ministerial positions.
Additionally, women hold 40% of Superintendent appointments. Furthermore, the government has launched the National 116 GBV Call Center, which offers 24/7 support for survivors, and allocated US$1.8million to PLAN International to empower women economically and address harmful social norms.
Programs such as cash transfers for over 4,000 vulnerable households and the “Support a Child, Save the Future” initiative, which assists street children, were also discussed.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Concerns: While the establishment of the 116 GBV Call Center is a positive step, the address failed to propose specific legal reforms, increased funding for prevention, or measures to hold perpetrators accountable. The absence of data on GBV prevalence and the lack of a clear commitment to strengthening legal frameworks were notable omissions.
Economic Empowerment for Women: The Liberia Women Empowerment Project was highlighted as a key initiative for supporting women-led businesses, but no mention was made of gender-responsive budgeting or policies to close the gender gap in employment and wages.
Education and Health for Women and Girls: The government introduced the “One Child, One Chair” initiative to improve school conditions, but there was no explicit mention of closing the gender gap in education. Despite improvements in maternal and child health, including increased child vaccination rates, sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls were not specifically addressed.
Political Participation of Women: The administration’s emphasis on female representation in government positions is commendable, but there was no mention of efforts to enhance women’s representation in elected offices, such as through gender quotas or electoral reforms.
