LIBERIA: Women Group Protests - Presents 13 Counts Petition To Gender Minster

Barely 24 hours after holding a major press conference, the Coalition of Civil Society Women of Liberia (COCISWOL), has staged a major demonstration in Monrovia, presenting an eleven count petition to the Minister of Gender and Development Varbah Gayflor.

The women's petition which was read by Lebbeh Briggs, outlined a number of issues affecting women in society ranging from the plight and welfare of women to marginalization, and accused the minster of sowing the seeds of discord among women in general. Reading the petition on behalf of the COCISWOL, Mrs. Lebbeh drew down problems facing the civil society women in the presence of Minster Gayflor and staff, amid hundreds of passers-by and bystanders who watched the scene with much anxiety and curiosity.

The women, quoting the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 13.25 signed in 1820, 1818 and 1819 and the Rome Declaration, the women argued that these are the fundamental basis which deemed it fate for them to come together to highlight the plight of women by consolidating their strength, expertise and resources for the betterment of the nation.

She also quoted the COCISWOL Act which talks about the quality and promotion of Women's right, and being cognizant of the fact that the Government of Liberia is a signatory to these international instruments which called on state actors to do in their power to effect affirmative action to improve the status of women, and also being aware of President Ellen Johnson's intention and desire to promote women, they were therefore requiring and requesting Minister Gayflor to answer to the following questions because they believe that they are one of the beneficiaries of Madam Sirleaf's endeavor in transforming the nation and as such, they believed that the minster was under due mandate to answer to the following:

“What is the Gender ministry doing in general for the women of Liberia? What has ministry done for the visibility of the women of Liberia? Why has the ministry decided to select a particular group of women to work as partners? Why is the ministry not allowing organization to implement rather than being the implanting team, is that the work of the ministry, why not monitoring? Why is there so much domineering power at the ministry rather than flexibility to make working relationship easier? Why is it that women have been marginalized? Can you tell us madam minster as relates to gender mainstreaming and what are the disparities? What is the mandate of the gender ministry? Why only three rural women group and why are some not receiving funds? Are ECOWAS Women in Liberia not a part of the process? There was confusion and it has not been properly mitigated or finalized. What are the safe homes for girls? Where is the money for victims support? We will like to know the gender quality foundlings for five years implementation and who are the implementing teams because civil society is not there thus, we would like to know who those that are there” she concluded with her inquiry.

Additionally, the group also rebutted a gender ministry allegation that it made during a press conference held on Monday, May 31, 2010 in which it accused the Women Group of sowing discord and inciting women groups against the Minster and the Ministry. The women group in their petition alleged that the Minster is doing what she has always done best by avoiding to addressing herself to pertinent issues affecting women in the country and as such, they are calling on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to intervene in the matter.

In response, Minster Gayflor received the petition and thanked the women and promised to speedily look into the complaints filed by them. In the interim, the minister said why they are awaiting for the appropriate actions to be taken, she was appealing to them to be calm, stressing that there was no need for them has too many confusion among themselves. She however refuted claims made by the women that she is an excess baggage saying “ if somebody who likes you or somebody who doesn't like you calls you man what do you say about that” she asked rhetorically.

Responding further to questions from journalists, the minister said if she is an excess baggage as it has been pronounced by the women, it was the responsibility of the president Sirleaf to determine and not anyone else. She said for the past seven years she has been working hard in the interest of all women in the country and that for someone to call her an excess baggage, it will be determined by the president whose will and pleasure she is currently serving.