NATIONAL NEWS
BOMI COUNTY – The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), in partnership with UN Women and with support from the Government of Ireland, has convened a two-day dialogue with local government male officials aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in local governance and peacebuilding.
The engagement, taking place in Tubmanburg, brought together traditional, religious, and community leaders—including chiefs, pastors, and imams—from Gbarpolu County, Grand Bassa County, and Bomi County.
By: Peter Alwaysthanksful Darblo
The dialogue forms part of ongoing efforts to encourage male leaders at the community level to actively support women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes, particularly in local governance and peacebuilding initiatives.
Providing an overview of the initiative, WONGOSOL Program Manager Munah Kieh said the engagement is intended to help transform harmful gender norms through county-level dialogues with traditional and religious leaders.
According to Madam Kieh, the initiative seeks to strengthen women’s participation in leadership by engaging men as allies in the fight for gender equality and inclusive governance.
She noted that despite progress in women’s empowerment across Liberia, many women at the community level still face cultural and social barriers that limit their ability to participate in leadership and decision-making.
Madam Kieh emphasized that involving men in such discussions is essential because they play a critical role in shaping community norms and influencing decisions that affect women’s rights and opportunities.
WONGOSOL Program Manager Munah Kieh
She explained that the purpose of bringing male leaders into a women-led dialogue is to encourage them to support and protect the interests of women and girls within their respective communities.
According to her, the two-day engagement will also provide a platform for participants to openly discuss the challenges women face in leadership while identifying practical ways traditional and religious leaders can help create an enabling environment for women’s participation.
Madam Kieh further stressed that by the end of the dialogue, male participants are expected to better understand their roles in supporting women and creating space for them to actively contribute to community development, governance, and peacebuilding.
Participants are also expected to develop commitments aimed at promoting gender equality and supporting women’s leadership initiatives within their respective counties.
Organizers believe that strengthening collaboration between male community leaders and women’s organizations will significantly contribute to building inclusive communities where both men and women can equally participate in governance and development.
The dialogue forms part of broader efforts by WONGOSOL and its partners to promote women’s rights, leadership, and participation in decision-making processes across Liberia.
