Assistant Secretary General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director reiterates UN Women commitment to promote gender equality and women empowerment in Liberia

Monrovia, 28 June 2022 - Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Asa Regner, has concluded her first official mission to Liberia where she held several strategic meetings with high-level government officials and women leaders. She also interacted with women who are beneficiaries of UN Women interventions in Liberia.  
Ms. Regner was accompanied by UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms. Oulimata Sarr.

Some of the high-level officials that Ms. Regner met include, Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah; Acting Minister of Justice, Hon. Nyanti Tuan, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Williametta Saydee Tarr; and Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Varney Sirleaf. Ms. Regner also had a chance to meet the UN Country Team and members of the diplomatic community and development partners.

During her engagements, Ms. Regner emphasized UN Women’s commitment to support the Government and people of Liberia to promote gender equality and women empowerment in the country. 

She noted that Liberia has made important strides to advance the rights of women and girls over the past two decades through legislative reforms and targeted programmes to eradicate discriminatory barriers and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, despite challenges.

Ms. Regner had an opportunity to visit the vocational and heritage centre in Todee in Montserrado County constructed by UN Women under the European Union, and UN Spotlight Initiative. UN Women is establishing four vocational and heritage centres in four Counties to provide alternative economic livelihood programs to traditional practitioners as part of interventions to eliminate FGM in Liberia. The centres will serve as dedicated learning centres for traditional practitioners and young women and girls to acquire new livelihood skills.
Ms. Regner also interacted with former traditional practitioners of female genital mutilation. At least 300 traditional practitioners have benefitted from the alternative economic livelihood programme, which was launched in December 2019 under the Spotlight Initiative.

Although milestones have been achieved, there has been little progress in women’s political participation, leadership, and representation in national and local governance. The percentage of women in the legislature has fallen from over 16 percent in 2006 to less than 11 percent currently. 

Ms. Regner called upon the country leadership to foster a common agenda to promote women political participation and take advantage of the 30 percent gender quota for political party candidates, as Liberia is preparing for the 2023 elections.

The UN Women Deputy Executive Director was also delighted to meet various women’s groups and young women leaders to discuss opportunities for enhancing women’s participation in politics and leadership. Ms. Regner also applauded the contributions made to peace building, justice, and conflict resolution by members of the Fish Market Women’s Peace Hut, who shared their experience of how they are contributing.to strengthening social cohesion and supporting women's access to justice.

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more inclusive world. 
 
For More information please contact: -
Gloriah Ganyani
UN Women Liberia Communications Specialist
E-mail: gloria.ganyani@unwomen.org
Tel: 0776866201
Or 
John Monibah
UN Women Liberia Communications Officer
E-mail: john.monibah@unwomen.org
Tel: 0776737521

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