Mano River Peace Network Launched

The official launch of the Mano River Women Peace Network or MARWOPNET- 1325 taken place in Monrovia. The organization – launched at the YMCA on Crown Hill on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, will promote the rights and participation of women in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, the National Focal Point of MARWOPNET in Liberia- Ruth G. Caesar, said women organizations needed to work together to support the works of the Liberia National Police and Gender Ministry.

She emphasized the need to speed up the process of the UN council resolution by December 2015 so that MARWOPNET 1325 will be spread across the various schools.  She noted that the organization’s aim is also to promote Gender education, protection from violence and harmful practices, as well as create new and additional stake holders from the students’ community, adding the need to create space for young people to have voice as it relates to human rights, as well as to train the young people in conflict resolution. 

She described the young children as future leaders who must be trained. Ann-Marie Lukowski- Field Representative of Kvinna Till Kvinna, a Swedish organization partnering with MARWOPNET, served as Chief Launcher of the program.

Lukowski said she was proud of and gratified by the work done by MARWOPNET as evidenced by its work in Lofa and Montserrado counties. She told the students that being in the Clubs, they could be the next Ambassadors of peace to prevent sexual and Gender-based violence, as well as women political participation at all levels.

According to her, women were mostly exposed to war, but do not participate in the peace-building.  “Men are still ruling, despite a female president in Liberia,” she noted. Dr. Everlyn Kananga – a board member of MARWOPNET, indicated that the United Nations has been very instrumental in Liberia’s peace process, and it was about to draw-down, Liberians, especially the youth, needed to work together to maintain the peace in Liberia.

On behalf of the students, Emmanuel Dolo of the African Methodist Episcopal University, thanked the organization for the initiative in promoting peace and security in Liberia, assuring the students’ preparedness to work with the organization. By Ethel A. Tweh – Editing by George Barpeen