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‘If You Beat Your Wife, You Will Go to
Court’ President Sirleaf Declares at Launching new National Gender Policy Courtesy: Liberian Observer December 26, 2009  MONROVIA
– A National Gender Policy, aimed at ensuring that all Liberians,
especially rural women, are given an equal chance to participate in the
resources of the country and in national development, was formally
launched on Thursday by the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf.The ceremony took place at the S.K.D. Stadium, where hundreds of women from all parts of the country were in attendance. A number of dignitaries were present, including Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis; Gender Minister, Varbah Gayflor; Youth and Sports Minister, Etmonia Tarpeh; Member of the House of Representatives, Korpo Barclay; Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu; chairperson of the coalition of Women NGOs, Amelia Ward; Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Pamela White; president of the Sirleaf Market Women Initiative, Thelma Awori; the new UNICEF Representative in Liberia, Isabel M. Crowley; and Executive Director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN) Leymah Gbowee. Gbowee was at the center of the internationally acclaimed Liberian documentary, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” Also present at the event were Kebbeh Monger, president of the National Rural Women Structure (RWS), and Sarah Karwea, RWS chaplain. In her launching remarks, the Liberian president said the National Gender Policy concerns two main issues: equity and equality. Equity, she said, meant the participation of more women in everything in the country. “This is important because in our country, women have historically been left out of most things and relegated to cooking, child bearing and housekeeping.” Equality means that women must have equal opportunity in employment and equal compensation along with men, she said. “The National Gender Policy also means that women must also have equal access to the factors of production, which are land, credit and labor. “Women must be able to own their own land just like men do,” she added. “The Inheritance Law passed by the National Legislature gives you that right, the right to own your own land just like the men.” Women are also now entitled to obtaining microcredit from any of our banks or lending institutions, the President declared. She praised the women of Liberia for having a good record with the banks. It is reported that 80 per cent of loans borrowed by women have been faithfully repaid. President Sirleaf, who is also the Visitor to the University of Liberia (UL), spoke of equal access to education. She proudly recalled that at Wednesday’s UL graduation exercises, one third of the institution’s graduates were women. The new policy also means equal access to health. The government, Sirleaf said, has been striving to improve health facilities in the country. She thanked USAID Director, Pamela White, that her Agency was building health clinics throughout the country. The new policy, the president said, also gives women equal access to justice. In this regard, she highlighted two issues needing improvement: domestic violence and rape. “This government will not tolerate domestic violence,” the President declared. “If you beat your wife you will go to court,” she said emphatically. On rape, Sirleaf lamented the fact that so many young daughters are being violated. She called on the courts to expedite rape cases so that the culprits found guilty may be punished. She then appealed to the Chief Justice to ensure that this is done. A special court for rape cases has already been established. But the Chief Justice interjected to say that many parents whose daughters suffer rape hide the cases and do not pursue justice. The president also appealed to parents throughout the country to keep their children out of harm’s way. “Do not send your children to sell because by so doing you are putting them in harm’s way,” she added. Touching on access to transportation, especially for rural women who have to travel long distances into the interior, Sirleaf recalled that women had asked the Gender Ministry for motorcycles. The government could look into that, she said, but cautioned that these motorcycles should not be turned into “pam-pams” (meaning the use of the motorcycles for commercial purposes). If the women did that and had accidents, that, too, would be the government’s problem, she pointed out. President Sirleaf thanked the Gender Minister, Gayflor, her staff, all stakeholders and partners for contributing to the development of the National Gender Policy document. At Thursday’s event, the Gender Minister introduced the document, while her Deputy for Research and Technical Services, Annette Kiawu, presented a detailed description of the new policy. An abridged version of Liberia new National Gender Policy, neatly packaged in a colorful booklet, was distributed to guests. |
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