About | theforum

Over View of The Forum

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Liberia Women National Political Forum is a neutral and independent network, which consist of specialized women organizations, working to achieve increased representation and inclusion of women in decision-making and leadership. Organized in 2005, The Forum is jointly managed by the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia, the Women NGOs Secretariat, the Coalition of Political Parties Women, The Liberia Rural Women Association, the Liberian Women Initiative, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection.

Consistent with global instruments, the Liberian Women National Political Forum, commonly referred to as the “FORUM”, organized a conference in 2005, aimed at synchronizing the shared ideas of Liberian Women in a one policy instrument called the Liberian Women’s Manifesto. The Manifesto was birthed as a national public policy document in 2005 and has since existed. The derivative of the women manifesto was triggered by the Accra Peace Accord signed in 2003, which called for the cessation of hostilities, formation of the government of national unity. Article 28 of the CPA called for gender balance in all elective and non-elective posts. Though the Women’s Manifesto does exist, the idea of women participation in politics and decision-making still faces still challenges from national public policy institutions and actors.

Since then, The Forum continues to provide the space for Liberian women to organize autonomously; identify issues of concern to them and speak for themselves. To date, several other professional Women Organizations, who are doing similar work in women socio-political and economic participation, are part of the Forum collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding which is to be reviewed in 2018.

Today, the women of Liberia again see the need to look back twelve years at achievements made and or hindrances on critical concerns and interests outlined in the Manifesto, and also drawing attention to other emerging issues that tend to add on the already burden that women face. Even though achieving women’s empowerment/advancement is a grindingly slow process, since it challenges one of the most deeply entrenched of all human attitudes and behaviors; and also recognizing that the unequal participation and representation between women and men in decision-making positions is in fact part of the broader issue of gender inequalities that are entrenched and perpetuated in society.

The drafting and second edition of the Manifesto is definitely a glorious opportunity for the women to re-double their effort in demanding more actions from government to implement all the commitment made towards promoting gender equality and women empowerment.