NPA Managing Director urges Women to Prioritize Education
Women of Liberia celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2016 with the usual pomp and pageantry. This years’ program was held in Buchanan Grand Bassa County under the national theme “Pledge for parity by 2030: Step it up for gender equity”. The Global theme was “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality”. Women from many of the government Ministries, Agencies and Commissions based in Monrovia attended the Buchanan program, which started with a parade through the principal streets of Buchanan.
The keynote speaker was National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director David Williams. Mr. Williams urged women “to prioritize education as a catalyst to their growth and development”, noting that the clarion call for gender parity in Liberia will be difficult to achieve if the women lack the necessary qualification for leadership roles. Liberian women have been pushing a bill calling for at least 30% representation in national leadership positions but the bill is yet to be passed into law. Mr. Williams supports the women agenda but wants them to be equipped and able to compete with their male counterparts for said positions. He was however quick to add that it was about time that Liberia ensures gender parity and equal participation in decision making activities in every sector of our society by 2030.
There are fears and mounting debates on the issue of gender equity/equality, discrimination, and women contribution to peace, security, and social and economic development across the world, though at varying levels. However,
Mr. William maintained that those (nations) against the increase in women participation in all spheres of economic and political activities are shrinking because women continue to advance themselves and are contributing immensely to national growth and development. This comment runs true to the fact that research shows that women across the world contribute immensely to national development but their works are under-reported.
In keeping with the national theme for this year’s celebration – ““Pledge for parity by 2030: Step it up for gender equity” - Mr. Williams wants government to:
economy and other state affairs.
According to him “In order to enhance efficiency and deliverability of the global “sustainable development goals” by 2030, gender equity must be a priority feature on the national agenda of every nation.
In a related development, the NPA Managing Director, David Williams has called on United Nations member countries to elect a female Secretary General to replace the current Ban Ki-Moon in 2018. This, he believes, will reflect gender parity at the global stage. Mr. Williams, described as a “He forShe champion”, also urged other countries around the world to make specific commitments to addressing challenges that restrict women and girls from reaching their full potentials. Williams recalled that for decades now men have and continue to lead and direct activities toward achieving global peace, security and development yet incidents of war, murdering of innocent women and children by extremists have increased, while starvation in some places continue unabated.
Meanwhile Mr. Williams has emphasized the need for mechanisms to be put in place to meet the needs of both men and women, particularly “traditional” women living in difficult circumstances. He noted that to correct the gender imbalance and reverse the marginalization of women, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that women, particularly traditional women are treated as future leaders, giving them similar opportunities and societal responsibilities as their male counterparts.
Concluding Williams paid homage to women that have contributed immensely to global peace, security and development including Liberia’s Angie Brooks – Randall(Liberia’s first female permanent representative to the United Nations (1954-1977) who later became the first woman to chair the UN General Assembly as president in 1970); Madam Hanna Abedou Bowen Jones (another Liberian permanent representative to the United Nations who served as Vice President to the UN General Assembly (1983-1984); Dr. Antoinette Sayeh, former Director for Africa of the International Monetary Fund); Madam Ruth Sando Perry, former Chair of one of Liberia’s Transitional Governments (under whose stewardship the first post war elections were held in 1997); and most significantly Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Liberia and Africa’s first elected female president whose leadership brought a final end to years of civil conflicts and violence in Liberia.
Also making remarks at this year’s International Women’s Day program was Vice President Joseph Boakai. Ambassador Boakai commended the role of women in our nation building process noting that they continue to demonstrate the highest level of leadership in our democratic governance. The Vice President urged Liberian men to help create the political and economic space that will ensure equity and mutual coexistence.
Vice President Boakai, last year, declared his intention to contest the presidency come 2017 elections. In a statement read at the program, the women urged Ambassador Boakai and others contesting the Presidency to think about choosing a female running mate in the pending elections.
