Advancing Women's Political Participation in Liberia: A Technical Briefing on Electoral Systems
The event was organized by the Women's Legislative Caucus of Liberia in collaboration with UNDP and UN Women, with technical expertise provided by the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division under the Liberia Electoral Support Project.
Date:
National and international stakeholders gathered in Monrovia on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, for a technical briefing hosted by the Women's Legislative Caucus of Liberia on electoral systems and women's political participation.
The event was organized in collaboration with UNDP and UN Women, with technical expertise provided by the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division under the Liberia Electoral Support Project. The project is led by UNDP and implemented in collaboration with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), with funding from the European Union, Irish Aid, and the Embassy of Sweden.
The briefing aimed to explore how quotas for women's participation can be implemented in Liberia's electoral system and to examine options for enhancing women's representation in elected positions, thereby building momentum toward potential reform.
The key highlight of the event was a technical presentation by Maarten Halff, Head of Electoral Policy at the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) in New York. This provided global perspectives and reform options to enhance women's political participation under different electoral frameworks.
In his opening remarks, UNDP Representative Aliou Dia emphasized that the forum offers a valuable platform for fostering in-depth dialogue on women's political participation. He reaffirmed the UN's commitment, through UNDP and UN Women, to supporting inclusive democratic processes, noting, "We want to see more Liberian women entering public life."
UN Women’s Country Representative Comfort Lamptey emphasized that inclusive political systems, where women are meaningfully represented, tend to produce more equitable and effective outcomes.
"Temporary special measures, including gender quotas, can help advance women's representation, but their impact depends on how well they are designed and adapted to the local political context," she said, reaffirming UN Women's commitment to supporting evidence-based advocacy for women's political empowerment.
Mr. Halff emphasised the importance of tailoring solutions to the specific context. "Having an accurate and broadly shared diagnosis of the political representation challenges is a first step for any country in developing solutions that can bring meaningful improvement in women's participation," he explained.
National Elections Commission Commissioner Josephine Kou Gaye emphasized the Commission's commitment to inclusive elections and called for legal and policy reforms to level the playing field. She also stressed the importance of other measures, such as civic education and support for women candidates, to help close the representation gap.
Honourable Gbeme Horace Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, stressed the importance of strategic alignment and male allyship to ensure effective legislation and lasting impact. Cllr Boakai Kanneh, the Chair of the Law Reform Commission, called for a comprehensive review of all electoral laws to support sustainable reform.
Chairperson of the Women's Legislative Caucus of Liberia, Honourable Ellen Attoh Wreh, reiterated the Caucus's determination to achieve a gender quota before the 2029 elections as part of a renewed legislative agenda announced in May 2025.
The technical briefing brought together lawmakers, electoral authorities, ministries, legal experts, and civil society actors to assess legal options and shape the next phase of advocacy for women's political participation in Liberia.
The UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project is co-funded by the European Union, Irish Aid, the Embassy of Sweden and UNDP. Its goal is to support national institutions and processes to promote a more inclusive and accountable democracy in Liberia.