Gender Ministry to host Women Conference

The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection is expected to host a two-day conference, commencing today, July 13, to discuss issues affecting women in Liberia, including active participation in national politics with their male counterparts.

According to the Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Madam Julia Duncan- Cassell, women will be taught how to participate in the 2017 Presidential and Representatives Elections, noting that most times women just sit at the back and allow men to participate in elections and other national issues.

Speaking in an interview, she said the ministry is also about to activate the Liberia Federation of Women (LFW) to enable women know their rights and values in society.  She said during the conference women will also learn how to get access to information, adding that women are not informed of so many things that go on in the country and how they could make use of the media to channel their problems.

The conference organized on the theme, “Step it up” is expected to bring together women from all parts of the country, including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.  Minister Cassell said its but time women in Liberia step out for their rights and compete with their male counterparts.

According to her, men are the ones mostly contesting for political positions in Liberia, observing that there are just few women who take the bold step to compete with men. She said the two days conference runs from July 13-14, 2016 to help educate women in bringing out issues that affect them.

Meanwhile, the Gender Minister is challenging women to stand up against sexual base violence and domestic violence, emphasizing that when women are educated on these issues, they will drastically reduce.

She urged men to respect views of women and stop sexual base violence and domestic violence against their female counterparts.

By Ethel A. Tweh-Editing by Jonathan Browne