Lack of Education, Early Pregnancies Hamper Women Participation -UN Women, Irish Aid Observe in Nimba

International development partners supporting women advancement in Liberia have gathered during a tour of Nimba County that, among issues hindering the progress of women in rural Liberia to take up leadership, the lack of education and early pregnancies are paramount. It was however noted as a result of the partners’ interaction with the city authorities that women were taking up leadership positions mainly with the Gompa local authority where two females are in the top leadership positions.

The observations were made Thursday, May 12, 2022 when a delegation led by Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Liberia Country Representative, and Kate O’Donnell, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Ireland visited the Gompa local authorities led by Amos Suah; and the Ganta Border Peace Hut in Nimba County to have a better understanding and learn more about women’s peace huts and how they are functioning to support community development.

During the international development partners’ deliberations with the local community, it was also observed that, while boys drop out of school to earn an income through running motor bike businesses, cases of sexual and gender-based violence which were previously high are now reducing owing to increased awareness campaigns.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Ms. Lamptey said, “We want to have a conversation with the community especially women in the peace huts to learn more about the platform and how they are functioning and supporting community development.”

Peace Huts are centres that are used by women in the community for conflict prevention, resolution and peace building.

Kate O’Donnell, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Ireland explained that her organization was interested in localized work and was very keen to see what is happening with women in Gompa.

“We want to hear from local authorities and from women peace huts so that we understand what is working well and what is not working in this County,” said Kate O’Donnell.

“We have been supporting work in Liberia. We want to know how transition can be reversed from interest in working with the organizations to supporting change and development,” she expressed.

Irish Aid is providing funding support to UN Women under the project: “Supporting community engagement on Women’s Political participation”.

Over the years, UN Women has been supporting community women to set up; enhance women’s participation in peace building and to empower them economically with funding support from the Government of Sweden.