UN Women Liberia cautions here that unless it harnesses the potential of half of its population, the country will not experience rapid development.
By: Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, Liberia, December 9, 2024 – UN Women Liberia Country Representative Comfort Lamptey has emphasized that Liberia cannot achieve full development if it fails to harness half its population’s potential.
She further underscored that the path to national development lies in the empowerment and inclusion of all citizens, regardless of gender.
Speaking recently during the UN Women Conference held in the Kofi Annan Conference Room of the One UN Building in Monrovia, Amb. Lamptey said educating girls, providing equal opportunities for women in the workplace, and eradicating abuse against women and children are essential to Liberia’s progress.
“Failure to harness this potential will not only undermine Liberia’s development but also impose a significant economic cost on the society, including men,” she cautioned.
Serving as panelists for the occasion, UN Resident Coordinator Christine N. Umutoni and UN Women Country Representative Comfort Lamptey led discussions on how men can actively combat gender-based violence across Liberia.
Madame Lamptey proposed a need for men to take active steps toward empowering women, both in their personal lives and professional environments.
“Stop beating on them,” she said. “Allow your wife to express herself. You have to see yourself as a role model. Undermining women’s rights does not make you a better man.”
She urged participants to practice what they advocate for in their workplaces and at home, highlighting the importance of consistency in their plans to address gender-based violence.
“Let us all commit to this and continue to be role models,” she said. “It’s easy to say, ‘I’m a HeForShe,’ but what you do at home must align with what you promote at work.”
Meanwhile, the conference brought together men from various UN entities in Liberia to dialogue, develop actionable plans and provide recommendations to combat gender-based violence in the country.
It was held under the national theme “From Talk to Action! Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls to Achieve Beijing+30” with the global theme, “Recommendations, Accountability, Resourcing Towards Beijing+30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
It also featured presentations on various topics, including The Importance of Positive Masculinity, Mainstreaming Masculinity and Femininity: A Viable Option for Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Women in Liberia, Men and Mental Health: Tackling Stigma, Balancing Careers and Family Life, Briefing on the HeForShe Commitment and Action Plan, among others.
The forum ended with a renewed commitment from participants to take actionable steps toward reducing gender-based violence and ensuring gender equity in all facets of Liberian society. Editing by Jonathan Browne
