ActionAid Liberia Lauds President Boakai for Steps Towards Ending Harmful Practices to Protect Liberian Girls and Women
As the President introduces a bill to the 55th Legislature to ban harmful practices for good in Liberia
ActionAid Liberia commends President Joseph Boakai for taking steps toward ending harmful traditional practices that have, for several decades, affected generations of Liberian girls and women.
By submitting to the 55th Legislature on Thursday, the “Action to Ban Harmful Cultural Practices in Liberia,” ActionAid believes that President Boakai has taken a major step forward, while we look forward to seeing the bill legislated by the legislature.
This action shows that he is on the verge of fulfilling the long-held dreams and inspirations of not only ActionAid Liberia, but also of many local rights groups and advocates across the country who have together envisioned a Liberia where girls and women are no longer subjected to harmful practices in the name of tradition.
ActionAid Liberia has a long-standing commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the protection of girls and women from violence and discrimination. As such, we see this move by the president laudable and only wish that the legislature do the needful.
Over the years, through our Women’s Rights and Protection Programme, and the Just and Equal Communities Project, we have worked closely with communities, traditional leaders, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to strengthen coordination and efforts to end harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilations (FGM), and child marriage.
Beyond advocacy, ActionAid Liberia has also provided safe spaces, legal aid, psychosocial support, and livelihood opportunities for survivors of gender based violence in addition to amplifying women and girls’ voices through advocacy, policy engagement, and movement building by ensuring that women lead and influence decisions affecting their lives.
With our focus on rights-based and feminist approaches, we have continued to collaborate with civil society, youth groups, and grassroots women’s networks to advance a Liberia where every woman and girl can live free from violence, discrimination, and fear, and at the same time provide them opportunities to soar.