Sets Ambitious Agenda for Gender Equality
Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) has inducted a new core of leadership who will stair the affairs of the women group at the Liberian legislature, thus ushering in a new term of leadership committed to strengthening gender equality and women’s political participation across the country.
Ellen Attoh-Wreh, newly inducted Chair of the WLCL, reaffirmed the Caucus’s mandate to work across party lines to make Liberian governance more inclusive and responsive to the needs of women and girls.
Hon. Attoh-Wreh: “It is a moment to reaffirm the role of the Women’s Legislative Caucus and set a clear direction for the term ahead. Our mandate remains focused: to work across political lines to advance gender equality and women’s political participation, to bring women’s voices into legislation, and to make our governance more inclusive and responsive.”
According to her, Liberia still has a long way to go and that Women make up less than 11 percent of the Legislature stressing the need for more women at the legislature. “At the county level, representation is even lower. We have seen improvements in cabinet and deputy ministerial appointments after the 2023 election,” this she described as commendable.
But overall, the numbers reflect structural barriers that remain unresolved, rooted in long-standing norms, unequal access to education and resources, and systems that do not fully support women’s leadership.
Liberia has signed onto global and regional commitments, from CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, these are not symbolic. They come with clear obligations to remove the legal and structural barriers holding women back. One of the clearest steps we can take is passing a gender quota law.
In 2022, the Caucus worked to amend the Elections Law to include a 30 percent mandatory quota for candidate lists. The bill passed both Houses but did not become law. Still, it was a strong signal of what is possible when women organize and act with a shared purpose.
In she vowed to work to advocate for a comprehensive framework on temporary special measures, including a binding gender quota for both legislative and executive appointments. Adding “encouragement is not enough. We need enforceable provisions,”
She however, outlined the leadership strategic plan for 2024 to 2028 lays out four clear priorities areas that include, strengthen the legislative function by promoting gender sensitive law making and championing specific laws, support gender parity in leadership, and reflect the realities of women and girls across Liberia.
Reinforce the oversight role by advocating for gender-responsive budgeting and holding institutions accountable for delivering on policies and programs meant to serve women.
Expand the representative function by increasing women’s participation in politics, supporting young women entering leadership, and working with communities to make political spaces more open, accessible, and safe.
Strengthen the Women’s Legislative Caucus institution by improving internal operations, communications, and the sustainability of the Secretariat. Across all of this work, we know the barriers women face remain serious. Most women still lack access to information, political financing, and networks of support. Many carry the full burden of care responsibilities. Others are threatened or silenced when they try to lead. These are not side issues, they go to the heart of why representation remains so low.
This work requires partnership. We thank the European Union, the Governments of Sweden and Ireland for their continued political and financial support to women’s leadership and gender equality in Liberia.
This work requires partnership. We thank the European Union and the Governments of Sweden and Ireland for their continued support and commitment to advancing women’s leadership and gender equality in Liberia. Your support has made it possible for the Caucus to remain active, visible, and engaged at critical moments.
She also acknowledged the ongoing support of the India-Brazil-South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA) Fund, a partnership between the Governments of India, Brazil, and South Africa.
The Fund is supporting a new initiative with the Women’s Legislative Caucus, currently under development, which will focus on leadership, economic empowerment, and regional exchange for knowledge sharing.
We especially recognize the longstanding partnership and technical support from UN Women, whose consistent engagement has been central to the work and visibility of the Caucus We also acknowledge the valuable contributions of UNDP in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting inclusive governance.
The UN Women Country Representative in Liberia, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the Women’s Legislative Caucus, applauding its new leadership and ongoing cross-party efforts to promote gender equality in national governance.
UN Women Country Representative in Liberia, Ms. Comfort Lamptey
Speaking on behalf of the entire UN family, she praised the Caucus for its dedication to advancing women’s participation in political processes, both individually and collectively. She acknowledged the vital support from international partners including the European Union, Sweden, and Ireland, and emphasized collaboration with UNDP in Liberia.
Despite progress, Lamptey highlighted the underrepresentation of women in Liberia’s parliament, calling it a significant gap in the country’s fulfillment of international gender equality commitments. “The call for a mandatory gender quota is not just about numbers,” she said. “It’s about creating a fair system where women can run, lead, and shape national decisions.”
She commended the Caucus’ new strategic plan, which focuses on strengthening legislation, inclusive budgeting, governance participation, and peacebuilding. These priorities, she noted, align with Liberia’s development agenda and global commitments.
Ms. Lamptey concluded by pledging UN Women’s continued partnership to help advance gender equality and empower women leaders across Liberia.
