The Government of Liberia promises gender equity-focus budget for the country.
By Lewis S. Teh
Monrovia, Liberia, November 27, 2024 – Assistant Finance Minister for Budget, Madam Sarah McGill Mulbah, says the Government of Liberia under President Boakai is committed to making gender equity a central focus in planning the National Budget.
Assistant Minister Mulbah gave the assurance here on Monday, November 25, 2024, at official launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The launch was held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
Delivering a statement on behalf of Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, she highlighted a need for concerted efforts in battling Gender Based Violence (GBV).
She emphasized that the Ministry of Finance will continue to play a key role in prioritizing projects and programs that address needs of women.
She noted that during consultations for the development of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) that will be launched shortly, gender-related issues were consistently highlighted across all discussions, underscoring their significance in national planning.
“Ending gender-based violence requires not only strong legal frameworks, but also sustained investment,” Minister Mulbah underscored.
She further stressed that responding to gender-based violence is costly, citing the lack of resources for law enforcement.
“If a woman is raped and the police don’t have gasoline for their vehicles or motorbikes, that responsibility is transferred to the grieving family. Government has to take care of its responsibility in reducing response time,” she urged.
In addition to direct interventions, she pointed out the importance of supporting indirect sectors such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in fostering adequate responses to gender-based violence.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international civil society-led campaign.
It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day, highlighting that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide.
The campaign was launched by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, and has since mobilized individuals and organizations, including the United Nations and partners worldwide to advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Monday’s launch in Liberia was officially done by Second Lady, Madam Synleseh S. Dahn-Koung, attending by women from across Liberia, representatives of UN Organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps and government officials. Editing by Jonathan Browne
