Women Yearn for Equity

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Women Yearn for Equity
Edwin M. Fayia, III & Yurfee B. Shaikalee: Liberian Observer
March 10, 2009

The International Colloquium on Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security has ended in Monrovia with a call for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council 1325 and 1820.
Resolution 1325 calls for the protection, participation and promotion of women's rights and their involvement in peace processes, and the adoption of Resolution 1820. Security Council 1820 addresses sexual violence against women.

In the outcome of the Colloquium, named “Monrovia Declaration,” there was call for greater accountability and an end to impunity.
On Sunday, March 8, 2009, the second day of the Colloquium and also International Women's Day, the Angie Brooks International Center for Women's Empowerment, International Peace and Security was launched. The Center is expected to be the concrete outcome of the Colloquium.
Liberia's Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele said the Center would strive to be a part of the United Nations(UN) University system.
The Angie Brooks Center will engage in training, research and documentation, as well as advocacy and partnership. It is expected to provide training for women all over the world.
In her brief but inspiring welcome statement Saturday at the opening ceremony, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, co-convener of the event told conferees that Liberians were pleased to be joined by their guests at the Colloquium.
“The presence of these distinguished world leaders,” President Sirleaf pointed out “has motivated, inspired and challenged Liberians as a people and nation to continue to work for better a future.”
President Sirleaf also expressed special recognition to the Senegalese leader Abdoulaye Wade and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for achievements their respective countries had made in the advancement of women empowerment.
In remarks, President Wade said “For us in Senegal the leadership of the nation should strive to promote women advancement in several ways such as political participation, economic empowerment and governance.”
The Senegalese leader further urged the conference participants to remain focused and steadfast in the advancement of all sectors of governance and economic empowerment on the African continent.
Also in his remarks, President Kagame whose country has done more than any other state in women empowerment acknowledged that women empowerment needed to be a primary interest to every nation.
He stated that women accounted for more than half of the productive workforce in the world.
Besides, the Rwandan leader noted that “women are also the primary breadwinners, but women worldwide were still being denied their right roles in the socio-economic and political development in their respective countries around the world.”
He alluded to his country's transformation since 1994, where women representation and participation in decision making have gone up owing to legal reforms.
In addition to the notable 52 percent of women representation in the Rwandan parliament, Kagame said, women account for 50 percent of the judiciary, including the Chief Justice as well as 36 percent of the cabinet.
The First Vice-President of Spain and founder of the initiative “Women for a Better World” Ms. Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega Sanz said the International Women Day calls for a more comprehensive solidarity that “each of us here and elsewhere in the world must set out on the road to the full winds of change.”
“I believe that ignoring the plight of women,” Vice President Vega Sanz declared, “is not only inexcusable lack of responsibility but also an unjustifiable crime against humanity.”
She further contended the fight for freedom will not be over until freedom can be enjoyed by all including women all over the world.
During the impressive opening ceremony at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville outside Monrovia, several distinguished and prominent personalities spoke emphatically about the empowerment of women in the spheres of governance, decision making, leadership, peace building and development.
Amongst these personalities were: Ambassador Karen Stewart, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, who introduced the Video message from the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton; Ms. Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada; Ms. Luisa Dias Diogo, Prime Minister of Mozambique; and Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice President of The Gambia.
Others were Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the European Commission; Chancellor Angela Merkels of Germany, who spoke through a proxy; Ms. Veronica Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, who addressed the conference through video message; Dr. Aisha Moamar Ghadafi, Daughter of Libyan Leader, who read her father's message; Ms. Tzipi Livni, Assistant Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel who spoke through a proxy; Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Loj, Special Representative of the Secretary of the United Nations, who introduced the video link by Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy UN Secretary General; Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairman of the African Union Commission; Madame Ramatoulaye Yade-Zimet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Republic of France; and Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Climate Change
There were several sessions at the Colloquium including one on climate change. The Minister of Migration and European Affairs, Maam Astrid Thors, spoke on 'Climate Change and Gender.'
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the climate is changing vigorously than ever expected.
“Impacts of climate change will hit strongest the poor regions and people, who will have the least resources to act against it. Seventy percent out of these poor are women,” Minister Astrid Thors told her keen listeners.
“Here in Liberia, the rains and their irregularities will most likely increase. This will lead to erosion on the coastal areas, which may lead to decreasing fish stocks. Rain will also mean difficulties in harvesting of agricultural products and fruits,” Minister Astrid Thors declared.
Minister Thors encouraged Liberian women to work hard to show the world that they are serious about climate change. “We must set ourselves on the path that will lead us to a comprehensive and global framework for the climate,” She added.
She Urged Liberian women to take their rightful place as European women have done to get other industrialized countries on board to fight climate change with the aim of a comprehensive international agreement concerning the efforts to be taken after 2012 set by UNFCCC.
She also said they must ensure that such a commitment was obtained this December in Copenhagen at the UNFCCC climate change conference.
Many issues of climate and gender, mitigation and adaptation were discussed by a working group chaired by Minister Astrid Thors.
The keynote address was delivered by Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European commission. There were six panelists including Dr. Eugene Shannon, Minister of Lands Mines and Energy of Liberia and N. Nandi Nddaitwah, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Namibia.
Others were Madam Catherine Namygula, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources of Zambia; Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, United Nations Habitat and Director of NUON Kenya;