By: Ezekiel Geeplay Ezekiel |Montserrado County Correspondent ezekielgeeplay.105.5@gmail.com
Monrovia- March 20, 2025 – Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, has underscored the need for continued support from the global community in advancing the Beijing +30 Goals and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (STG-5), gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Minister Kollie made the call Friday, March 14, 2025, during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, where she delivered Liberia’s status report since the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action.
In her address, the Minister stated that “now is the time for decisive action,” as she underscored the need to place women and girls at the heart of the global development agenda.
She added that Liberia stands ready to collaborate with all nations to make gender equality a reality for women and girls everywhere, reminding the world that achieving gender equality requires continued effort, cooperation, and commitment to ensuring that women and girls have the opportunities they need to thrive.
According to a statement from the ministry, the Gender Minister took center stage to highlight Liberia’s journey toward gender equality, which has been marred by both challenges and remarkable strides.
Her address reflected the country’s commitment to advancing women’s rights through key legislative reforms, social programs, and efforts to ensure women’s full participation in all aspects of society.
Minister Kollie’s statement reflected on Liberia’s history and its dedication to promoting gender equality, noting the establishment of the Ministry of Gender and Development in 2001, following the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women.
She emphasized that this was a crucial step in aligning Liberia’s national priorities with the global agenda to empower women and promote gender equality.
However she pointed out that, “since then, Liberia has made significant strides in addressing gender inequality and promoting women’s participation through key legislation, policies, and programs,” as she highlighted several landmark laws, including the Rape Law, Anti-Trafficking Law, Domestic Violence Act, and the progressive Land Rights Act—one of Africa’s most forward-thinking laws, granting women the right to own land and participate in land governance.
She shared that Liberia has not only enacted progressive laws but has also initiated consultations to reform discriminatory legislation.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief
