Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative to the United Nations says the country remains unwavering in its practical commitment to achieving gender parity and upholding women’s rights, a dispatch from the mission in New York has said.
The debate held on the theme, “Promoting the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and Sustaining Peace through Women’s Political and Economic Empowerment,” was addressed by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. told the United Nations Security Council during its Open Debate on Women Peace and Security, that Liberia’s commitment is manifested as a priority in its Government’s flagship development agenda- The Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD), and other institutional frameworks, including the National Gender Policy and the Peace-building Plan.
On the UN landmark resolution on women, peace and security 1325, Kemayah told members of the Council that prior to Liberia adopting its National Action Plan on the resolution, Liberian women were already in peace-building; hence, the resolution only gave added impetus to the efforts already being exerted by the women of Liberia.
He further stated that even more captivating is the renewed boost the commitments to implementing UN Resolution 1325 that have been received from the dynamic leadership of President George Weah.
Kemayah, however, observed that while progress has been made across the globe, the challenges of inequalities still abound, especially for women’s participation in peace and security processes. “It has been eight years since we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the landmark resolution on women, peace and security 1325, with many activities, including a similar debate in this very Security Council and other debates in subsequent years. Yet, women’s participation in peace and security processes is still being beset by obstacles, including, but not limited to commitments which lack sufficient financial and political support,” he stressed
According to the dispatch, he assured the UN Security Council of the resolve of President Weah, the Government and People of Liberia, to collectively endeavor to invest in the meaningful contributions that women make to preventing and resolving conflicts in order to realize a more peaceful and secured environment, not just for Liberia, but globally.
The United Nations Security Council’s open debate on women, peace and security is held annually, and presents an opportunity for UN Member States to share actions taken to advance gender equality and empower women, both politically and economically, in the context of peace and security decision-making and post-conflict recovery.