LIBERIA: Women Capacity Building Craved

The call has gone out to the Liberian government and its implementing partners to pick up the mantle of building the capacity of Liberian women to put them on par with other women around the globe who are taking leadership positions.

The call was made by the Secretary General of Alliance of NGOS Working With Vulnerable Population and Advocating for Rights, Daniel B.Wehyee.

Speaking Wednesday on the “Theme: Women Empowerment an Action worth Taken” at the start of a 4-day workshop taking place in Congo Town, Wehyee said the Government of Liberia and other partners needed to design programs that would go a long way in addressing the issue of women empowerment because according to him “the stage at which the country is requires that women are trained and empowered.”

He wants the Government and development partners to take up this challenge so that in the years to come, women will stand to make decision.

“Women should be empowered now and they should be provided all the necessary means that will make them sustain and achieve their desired goals,” Weyee told participants.

Impressed by the attendance of officials of government and other stakeholders, he said it demonstrated their resolve to champion the cause of women empowerment, women development as well as youth empowerment in this country.

Commenting on other issues as it relates to the rights of women and fundamental rights, Wehyee accused the government of not paying attention to the issue of women, such as the provision of security.

For example, he made mention of the recent incident in Lofa County where a young girl was killed as well as in Monrovia where a man killed his wife.

“Government needs to take actions that will make people to be afraid, to know that they will face harsh penalty for doing wrong things against women,” he noted.

For her part, a volunteer of Alliance of NGOs working for the Rights of Vulnerable people, Patricia Wayon commented on the issue of HIV-AIDS.

By now, she said Liberians should be aware of the danger of the disease because is not a new thing in Liberia.

“We know in our country that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is going up and is because of the lack of knowledge; people don't have the proper understanding of how it's transmitted,” she said.

The four days forum is organized by Alliance of NGOs working with Vulnerable Population in partnership with Women Won't Wait Coalition through Action Aid –Liberia, Women Won't Wait end HIV and Violence.