Monrovia- April 13, 2021: The Speaker of the House of Representatives has disclosed that Liberia has an inevitable record of making remarkable history in promotion of gender equity in the Sub-region and the world at large.

Speaker Chambers in his remarks as the Keynote Speaker of the opening section at the multi purpose ministerial complex in Congo Town, disclosed that Liberia is the first independent African Nation to produce the first female President of the United Nations in person of Madam, Angie Brooks Randolph, Liberia Special Representative to the United Nations under the presidency of Dr. William V. S. Tubman.

According to Speaker Chambers, who was quoting excerpt from the speech of D. Maxwell Saahkemayah, stressed that women empowerment in Liberia is reflected at the highest level, noting that the women constitute 65% of Assistant and Deputy Ministerial positions in government including two female Associate Justices on the bench of the Supreme Court of Liberia.

The House’s Speaker maintains that Liberia remains the first country on the continent to produce the first female president, Her Execellemcy Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, which he considered as a vivid indication of the rights of women are not suppressed in Liberia, once they satisfy the standard demanded by the people.

House Speaker commends ECOWAS Joint Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Education, Science and Culture and Health Session for selecting Liberia as the venue of said historic meeting.

Dr. Bhofal Chambers in his formal opening remarks stressed that the focus of the ECOWAS Joint Committee Session is tailored on Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment, Education, Science and culture, as well as Health, which according to him no doubt are crucial to the happiness, dignity, growth, consciousness and progress of any given society.

The current session of ECOWAS in Liberia is held under the theme: “Empowerment of women in the ECOWAS Region”

For his part, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohammed Tunis applauded the Liberian government for the warn reception given them since their arrival for the delocalized meeting of the joint ECOWAS committee.

Speaker Tunis calls on members of the ECOWAS parliament to work hard in achieving concrete progress in improving the status of women including improving their economic opportunities, recognizing and strengthening women’s legal status and rights.

“We must endeavor to carry them along in every aspect of our undertakings, see them as the ones who compliment us and not compete with us. See them as our right-hand persons and not rivals. We must see women as collaborators and not contenders”, Speaker Tunis indicated.

The ECOWAS Speaker pointed out that the sub-regional body has an important role to play as parliament, which according to him include among other things the promotion and protection of legal and policy frameworks for not only preventing and combatting all forms of discrimination against women but also promoting their empowerment.

At the same time, Liberia first lady, Clar Weah said the issue of sexual and gender based violence, harmful practices, female genital mutilation, child marriage and teenage pregnancy remain high across the sub-region.

She pleaded with members of ECOWAS parliament to work harder in protecting the rights of women and children across the community through policy formulation for women empowerment.