Fourteen years of civil war in Liberia (1989 – 2003) left hundreds of thousands of people dead, resulting in a traumatized and fragmented society with damaged social, economic and judicial infrastructures. During the conflict, horrific atrocities were committed, including systematic rape, the recruitment of child soldiers, and the deliberate spreading of HIV. These human rights abuses and war crimes were committed against civilians, particularly against women and girls, who were a major target for atrocities such as rape and other forms of sexual- and gender-based violence.
Six years after the end of the armed conflict, Liberia has begun rebuilding the country and is confronting major challenges. The country has established a fully functioning, democratically elected government that is strongly committed to human development, equality, and sustainable peace. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female head of state in Africa, has initiated a number of forward-looking gender policies. Since the end of the conflict and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accords in Accra in 2003, gender equality efforts have advanced significantly on the policy level with the development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy and a National Action Plan for addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as well as four UN/Government of Liberia joint programmes.
|
Despite these positive steps, many Liberians still suffer from the physical and mental injuries that were caused by the armed violence. Even though the armed conflict has officially ended, women and girls continue to face extremely high levels of sexual and gender-based violence, (SGBV), including, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced sex in exchange for food or survival, and forced or early marriage.
A society’s recovery from armed conflict and violence and the establishment of a society that enjoys inclusive peace, human security and gender equality depends on the recognition of such challenges. It further requires the coordinated planning of activities and initiatives to respond to these challenges. The implementation of Resolution 1325 through a National Action Plan is a tool for accomplishing this.
|
Mrs. Munah Siel, Director of the Liberian National Police |
Project Background
In August 2008, UN-INSTRAW and the Office of the Gender Advisor of the United Nations Mission to Liberia (UNMIL-OGA) established an inter-agency team supporting the Liberian Ministry of Gender and Development to lead the process of developing a Liberian National Action Plan. A Steering Committee composed of representatives from other government institutions, UN agencies and civil society organizations was established in order to guide the drafting of the plan. Community chiefs and organizations working outside of Monrovia were also involved in the process.
The Liberia project had the following objectives:
| • To support the full implementation of Resolution
1325 in Liberia by mobilizing a national action planning process on
women, peace and security issues |
| • To conduct a women, peace and security baseline
assessment of existing government initiatives, awareness and capacity
that would serve as the basis for the action plan |
| • To raise awareness among government policymakers
and other relevant stakeholders on women, peace and security issues,
including Resolution 1325 |
| • To build capacity on how to develop and implement a
National Action Plan on women, peace and security in the Liberia context |
|
Liberia Project Documentation
|
The culmination of the Liberia project was the launching of the Liberian National Action Plan
on 8 March 2009 at the International Colloquium for Women’s
Empowerment, Leadership and Development. The plan is unique because of
its inclusive and participatory development process, which included
work with the international community, civil society organizations and
the Liberian government.
|
|
