WONGOSOL Commends President Boakai for Advancing Women’s Leadership and Welcomes the Appointment of a Woman to Lead the Ministry of Justice

The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) commends His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. for his continued commitment to increasing women’s representation in key leadership and decision-making positions across his administration.

WONGOSOL particularly welcomes the recent appointment of a woman to serve as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.

This appointment is especially significant.

The Ministry of Justice occupies a pivotal position in Liberia’s governance, rule of law, and peace and security architecture. At a time when Liberia is advancing critical national processes around transitional justice, accountability, access to justice, protection of women and girls, prevention and response to gender-based violence, and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, women’s leadership within the justice sector matters greatly.

Liberian women have historically played an indispensable role in ending conflict, sustaining peace, promoting reconciliation, and rebuilding communities. Yet women continue to face barriers to justice and remain underrepresented in many of the institutions where decisions about peace, security, and justice are made.

The appointment of a woman to potentially serve as Liberia’s chief legal officer therefore carries both institutional and national significance. It creates an important opportunity to strengthen further gender-responsive justice, survivor-centered approaches to accountability, protection of women human rights defenders, access to justice for women and girls, and implementation of Liberia’s commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the broader Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

WONGOSOL looks forward to the Liberian Senate’s confirmation hearing and to a transparent process that provides the nominee the opportunity to present her vision, priorities, and preparedness to lead this critical national institution.

Upon her confirmation, WONGOSOL stands ready to work collaboratively with the Minister and the Ministry of Justice to advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; strengthen women’s access to justice; promote accountability for violence against women and girls; support gender-responsive transitional justice; and ensure that women’s voices and experiences remain central to Liberia’s peace, justice, and security processes.

More broadly, WONGOSOL recognizes the President’s appointment of women to several consequential portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Health, Education, Commerce and Industry, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Youth and Sports, and other senior positions within the Administration.

These are not merely symbolic positions. They are institutions that shape Liberia’s diplomacy, national security, economy, human development, justice system, and future.

For decades, Liberia’s women’s movement has called for women to move beyond participation at the margins to meaningful representation at the tables where national decisions are made. Increasing women’s representation in these spaces demonstrates that women are not only beneficiaries of development and peace; women are leaders, decision-makers, and architects of Liberia’s future.

WONGOSOL therefore encourages President Boakai to continue building upon this progress by expanding women’s representation across all levels of government, including deputy and assistant ministerial positions, diplomatic missions, public corporations, county and local government structures, boards and commissions, and the wider justice and security sector.

We also encourage deliberate attention to the inclusion of young women, women with disabilities, rural women, and women from historically underrepresented communities.

Political will for women’s leadership is demonstrated not only through promises, but through deliberate decisions that give qualified women the opportunity, authority, and institutional support to lead.

WONGOSOL acknowledges the progress being made and remains committed to constructive engagement with the Government of Liberia to advance women’s leadership, gender equality, inclusive governance, access to justice, and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

When women are meaningfully represented in justice, peace, and security institutions, Liberia’s democracy and peace are strengthened.

Signed:

Esther S. Davis Yango

Executive Director

Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL)