The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to place women's leadership, transitional justice, and reconciliation at the center of Liberia's efforts to restore public trust and consolidate peace. This call comes in response to President Boakai's address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he discussed restoring trust, managing transformation, and strengthening multilateralism. WONGOSOL welcomes the President's recognition of women's leadership as crucial to sustainable peace, economic growth, and accountable governance.
WONGOSOL Executive Director, Esther S. Davis Yango, emphasized that Liberia's journey from conflict to constitutional democracy cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the contributions of women to peacebuilding, the experiences of victims and survivors, and the unfinished work of transitional justice. The organization believes that women's leadership is essential to sustainable peace and economic growth. WONGOSOL is calling for Liberia's Women, Peace and Security commitments to move beyond recognition toward implementation, financing, participation, and accountability.
WONGOSOL is demanding that the government translate commitments on women's leadership into tangible access to political decision-making, economic resources, security institutions, peace processes, and national development planning. The organization referenced President Boakai's statement that when women lead, peace agreements last longer, economies grow faster, and governance becomes more accountable. However, WONGOSOL stressed that such commitments must be supported by adequate and predictable financing, implementation plans, and affirmative legislative and governance reforms.
One of WONGOSOL's strongest concerns is the limited explicit attention given to transitional justice in President Boakai's UNGA address. The organization noted that the address focused heavily on restoring trust, strengthening institutions, accountability, and the rule of law – issues closely linked to the country's transitional justice agenda. WONGOSOL believes that the address could have highlighted Liberia's outstanding transitional justice priorities, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, accountability for conflict-era crimes, and reparations.
WONGOSOL is urging the government to clearly articulate what is required to establish and operationalize the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) and strengthen the Office of War and Economic Crimes Courts (OWECC). The organization is calling for sustained political commitment, adequate funding, institutional capacity, and meaningful engagement with victims, survivors, and civil society. WONGOSOL also wants the government to prioritize gender-responsive transitional justice, including the meaningful participation of women victims and survivors.
WONGOSOL is calling for the government's ARREST Agenda and other national development initiatives to be implemented through a gender-responsive approach. The organization believes that sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, and tourism directly affect women and girls and should address structural barriers to land, finance, markets, education, technology, justice, and decision-making. WONGOSOL is urging practical affirmative measures to ensure that national development policies produce measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls.
Liberia has launched its third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, with the government hosting a high-level side event on the margins of the 81st UNGA. WONGOSOL is challenging the government to ensure that climate action recognizes the particular vulnerabilities of women who are often disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change. The organization wants initial start-up funding for the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission to be intentionally provided for within the national budget.
Key points
- WONGOSOL urges President Boakai to prioritize women's leadership, transitional justice, and reconciliation in Liberia's trust-building agenda.
- The organization demands tangible access to political decision-making, economic resources, and security institutions for women.
- WONGOSOL calls for a gender-responsive approach to national development initiatives, including the ARREST Agenda.
