The electoral commission of Liberia has received a peer review on gender and social inclusion that highlights the inclusion of more women in politics.
By Naneka A. Hoffman
Monrovia, Thursday, March 21, 2024-The National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially received the peer review of the Gender and Social Inclusion Policy under the theme: “Ensuring Equity in Elections, Equal Participation for All.”
Speaking at the official ceremony on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Commission headquarters in Sinkor 9th Street, Monrovia Chairperson Davidetta Browne Lansanah said NEC has demonstrated over the years its commitment to working toward achieving balanced representation and positioning women at a high level of responsibility.
She explains that since the establishment of the Commission’s Gender Section a few years ago and the development of gender quality, the Commission, together with its partners, including UN Women, UNDP, EU, Ireland, the Government of Sweden, and others, is constantly promoting gender policy as a way of embracing the current reality that there is still a need to mitigate gaps in women’s representation in politics.
Chairperson Browne Lansanah commissioned an audit of gender policy to assess and check the institutionalization of gender equality in the Policy, adding that this helps the commission know that the policy’s existence is sensitive enough to address the issue of inclusion.
She said the audit could be a step in transitioning from the previous gender mainstreaming policy to the new Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy.
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Meanwhile, she notes that the new is to integrate provision to address persons with disability.
She thanked consultant Madam Caroline Bowah, UN Women, UNDP, EU, Ireland, and the Government of Sweden for their unwavering support in ensuring NEC finalizes these various instruments.
“We do know that this is not the end; we anticipate that after the presentation of the finding if there is anything the consultants need us to do, we will be prepared to do it at our various levels,” the NEC Chair assures. Editing by Jonathan Browne
