29 October 2009
The National Gender Network of Liberia (NGN) has flagged-off activities in the aftermath of the International Colloquium on Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security that was held in Monrovia in March this year.
According to a press release issued in Monrovia by the gender advocates network, main stakeholders gathered at the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Capitol Hill to mark the official kick-off program for the month-long NGN Post-Colloquium Gender Advocacy and Media Outreach.
The ILO Senior Program Officer in Abuja Office Ms. Folashade Ayorinde delivered the kick-off statement on behalf of the ILO Sub-Regional Director Madam Sina Chuma-Mkandawire. "Gender equality in the world of work has long been with us. Thus, the significance of this kick-off program can hardly be overemphasized. It comes to provide a platform for all Liberians to have the opportunity to reason together and understand that serious gender inequality issues indeed exist in the workplace as elsewhere that requires the attention of all stakeholders in order to ensure that they are totally addressed.
"And I am particularly happy to know that you are working on this together with the head of the Colloquium Secretariat. I am therefore happy to identify with this laudable initiative aimed at bringing to light the different needs and concerns of both men and women in the world of work. So on behalf of ILO Director and other colleagues of the visiting delegation, I am pleased to officially kick-off this gender advocacy media outreach," the ILO Director noted.
Making statements at the kick-off, the Manager of the Colloquium Secretariat, Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh noted she was delighted to form part of the round table discussion to officially kick-off the program and to lend support and solidarity to the process, adding that "such discussions are very significant in realizing the objectives of the Colloquium." She then cited several post Colloquium activities which she said, the Secretariat has already been doing and concluded by informing delegates that the Secretariat is currently wrapping up the establishment of the Angie Brooks International Centre.
Speaking earlier, the NGN Interim Chair, Madam Massa Lansanah said, the overall target of the NGN is to reduce all forms of violence against women and children and to increase population's awareness on gender issues in workplace. "Violence against women is one of the most visible outcomes of gender inequality and women's lack of empowerment. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve our Millennium Development Goals as long as such abuses persist," she said.
One of the Incorporators of NGN and Chairman of Montserrado Peace Committee, Rev. Augustine Arkoi, observed that many people do not know that activities of the Colloquium are ongoing and the main objective of the gender advocacy and media outreach is to inform the general public on the post-colloquium activities and create a platform for actors to showcase gender mainstreaming programs.
The kick-off program which was host by the Peace building Office brought together representatives from line government ministries, civil society, youth and international organizations. The NGN Post-Colloquium Gender Advocacy and Media Outreach activities, which will comprise of a three-day symposium and one month on air live presentations, are being supported by the International Labor Organization.
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