Grand Bassa hosts Int’l Women’s Day

The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection joins other International women to celebrate the International Women’s Day today. Since 1975, March 8 is set aside each year to recognize all women the world-over.

The Director for women at the Ministry of Gender, Parleh D. Harris, in an exclusive interview yesterday at the Gender Ministry, said the IWD program will be held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Ms. Harris also indicated that since March 1st, the women of Liberia began a car wash exercise, alongside shoes-shinning at the entrances of the Gender Ministry, in order to solicit funds to visit hospitals and the prison compounds in Grand Bassa County.

She urged all women in Liberia to stand up in resisting violence against them. She also expressed the need for women to be productive in the Liberian society so that they are not underestimate by their male counterparts. According to her, Women can play a major role in the society. 

he Director for Women at the Gender Ministry disclosed that the program will bring together students from the various universities in the country in a debate to test their intellectually strength as university students.
High school students will also participate in an Inter- generational exercise.

The 2016 International Women Day celebration is being observed under the theme “Planet 50-50 by 2030: step it up for Gender Equality”, while Liberia will memorialize March 8, under a national theme: Pledge for parity by 2030: Step It up for Gender Equality.

Ms. Harris emphasized the need for all women to stand up in Liberia and fight against Gender-based violence, while admonishing their male counterparts to involve themselves by spreading the message that real 
men don’t rape; they must see girls and women as their sisters and mothers, stressing “it is everyone’s business”.

Targeted beneficiaries of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration are women, men, university students, as well as girls, women in Government, women entrepreneurs, academia, youth groups, traditional and rural women. Other are persons living with disabilities and HIVs, Gender-based, as well as Violence Survivors, among others.

By Ethel A. Tweh