Liberian Women Democracy Radio Launched

The first ever women owned radio station was introduced in Liberia. Liberian Women Democracy Radio (LWDR FM 91.1), which was launched on August 5, 2010 by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, in the Mudhole community, is the second women's radio station in Africa and the fourth in the world. Welcoming the initiative is the YWCA of Liberia as one of the implementing agencies together with the Liberia Women Media Action Committee. Recognised as one of the oldest women's organisations in the country, the YWCA of Liberia is happy with this new development in women advancement.

Statistics have shown that the radio is the easiest and most affordable means of reaching grass roots people, especially in rural areas. Many Liberian women's main source of information is through the radio, family and friends. Funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), LWDR was initiated to provide information to women who are not privileged to have access to necessary and important information because of where they live and other circumstances that cause them to lag behind in development; whether personal, community or national.

The station will target women and girls in over seven counties throughout the Liberian nation advocating for their rights as well as highlighting gender sensitive issues and providing practical training and experience for female journalists. In addition to providing information to the women of Liberia LWDR will also be a platform for women to voice their opinions and share their stories. Following its slogan “Advancing Women, Promoting Change” it will seek to give a voice to the voiceless and ensure that women's issues are brought to the forefront. “We are proud and encouraged to press forward in advancing women, to promote change.” The president, Ms. Johnson Sirleaf, has been advocating for the development and empowerment of women and such a station with objectives that cater to women will definitely see that this becomes a reality.

UNIFEM, part of UN Women, serves as the executing agency for the project, with the Liberia Women Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC) and the YWCA of Liberia acting as implementing agencies. “ We are so excited by this radio station” shared Roseline K. Toweh, National General Secretary of YWCA Liberia. “ This has been one of the dreams of the YWCA of Liberia. So this is a dream come true for us.” The association, namely the youth department, along with the other women agencies involved will be working to educate the Liberian people through this media on various UN conventions that directly affect the Liberian people. These will include CEDAW, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and the Resolution 1820, a reinforcement of the first one as that recognises sexual violence as a tactic of war and link it with the maintenance of international peace and security.

Training will be provided to the community women who are being targeted for programs on the radio station. The first batch of young women, Y-teens from the YWCA has already received their training and will share what they've learnt with other community women groups.