Monrovia: Over 40 participants from civil society organizations (CSOs), women's rights groups, gender advocates, the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Women's Legislative Caucus, the Law Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection have completed a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening coordination and advocacy for increased women's political participation in Liberia.
According to African Press Organization, the training, held from October 8 to 10, was organized by UN Women and UNDP under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, and technical support from the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
During the workshop, participants examined barriers to women's participation in politics and explored strategies for promoting women's equal participation in politics. International experts and facilitators led a series of interactive sessions designed to build knowledge, enhance practical advocacy skills, and strengthen coordination among women's rights groups, youth and disability organizations, and election observers.
Mr. Kuukpen emphasized the need for gender equality beyond political participation, calling for a systemic reset to address cultural, political, and economic disparities. He urged stakeholders to maintain the momentum from the workshop and proposed establishing a network to continue collaboration and advocacy.
Ms. Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Country Representative, praised the collaboration and commitment displayed by participants and institutions throughout the workshop. She highlighted the importance of adopting temporary special measures, such as gender quotas, to improve women's political representation in Liberia.
Ms. Lamptey also acknowledged the impactful advocacy by civil society organizations during the 2023 elections, which elevated women's leadership and violence against women in politics on the national agenda. She encouraged continued coordination and joint advocacy for women's political empowerment.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitment from all partners to sustain collaborative advocacy and promote inclusive electoral reforms that ensure women's meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Participants expressed interest in establishing a CSO coordination or networking platform to sustain collaboration and joint advocacy on women's political participation.
The Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance. The project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the National Elections Commission, with funding support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.