By: Patrick Cooper
MONROVIA: The President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, has received a high- powered delegation from the republic of South Sudan, particularly from the Women Legislative Caucus of South Sudan.
The visit of the high-level delegation of South Sudanese electoral stakeholders to Liberia is for Learning and Experience Sharing Mission Ahead of South Sudan’s First General Elections expected to take place in December 2024.
Receiving the high-powered delegation from South Sudan, at her Capitol Building Office Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Pro-tempore Karnga Lawrence was proud to mention the gains Liberia has made in giving women opportunities to serve over the years.
She remembered and made reference to Liberia producing the first elected female President in Africa, a history, she noted, worth celebration.
While sharing her story, Pro-temp Karnga-Lawrence told the South Sudanese Women delegation that the most important thing to do as a parliamentarian is to always make sure to do what is right and in the best interest of the vast majority of the ordinary people.
She encouraged the team of South Sudanese Women legislators, to help support each other especially creating the avenue for other young women who are striving to climb the ladder of national leadership but do not have the financial and other essential support.
President Pro-tempore Karnga Lawrence further cautioned the female legislators to continue or improve in their oversight responsibility if they should be re-elected by their people, recalling how it has greatly helped her, including other women of the Liberian legislative caucus.
The Pro-tempore also shared with the South Sudanese Women, that to elevate women and bring more unity, the Liberian female legislative caucus is planning to organize a “National Women Agenda” which will create an avenue for all Liberian women from all branches of government to unite and discuss best ways forward for more Women participation in national leadership.
Pro-temp Karnga Lawrence used the gathering to also thank the international partners particularly the UN Women, for their continuous support in providing more awareness and best ways forward on how Women can explore into politics.
Meanwhile, presenting the overview of the delegations visit, Madame Jackline Nasiwa noted that their visit to Liberia, particularly the female legislative caucus, was to learn from Liberias proud democratic history and how Women are making their way into it gradually.
According her, the visit aims to foster collaborative learning and knowledge exchange for South Sudan counterparts in preparation for their first ever General elections in December 2024.
Madame Nasiwa and others from the delegation named the success stories of the female legislative caucus of Liberia, Law protecting female participation, Women candidates, getting funds for their campaign, among several other things as issues or concerns they have come with, in other to learn from their colleagues in Liberia.
Madame Jackline Nasiwa: “We are happy to be in Liberia, we have heard of your great history and it is an opportunity to be here and learn from you; South Sudan has learned of such history in Democracy and remains proud of Liberia, our Women legislative Caucus is a young body which was established in 2006. This is why we have come to learn from you in Liberia.”
For her part, the United Nations Women Country representative, madam Comfort Lamptey, thanked the Senate President Pro-tempore, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, for the open alms to the Sudanese Women Legislative Caucus while mentioning that the interaction between both Women Caucuses will help improve Women’s involvement in national politics.
She encouraged the South Sudanese Women Legislative Caucus to make use of Liberia`s history and follow the good path the Country has taken in recent years.
The high-profile delegation to the office of the President Pro-tempore consisted of Madam Lona James Elia Luduro, Deputy Chair; Jackline Matteo Gaza Sereru, Rebecca Aluel Mayor, Nuba Peresi, and CharityYakobKimbo, representing the Parliament and also the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan.
While Dr. Angelina Mattijo Bazugba, Dean/Executive Director, National Transformational Leadership Institute-University of Juba, Ajonye Perpetua Paya Abraham, Secretary General, Judicial Reform Commission, Amer Deng Yak, Chair of the Women’s Bloc, Jackline Nasiwa, Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice, Viola Matela Pascal, Communications/Program Officer, National Transformational Leadership Institute-University of Juba and Ochaya James Philip Kulong, Executive Director, National Press Club of South Sudan represented the Civil society community.
On the other hand, Maureen Shonge, Regional Policy Specialist (Governance and Leadership), UN Women (East and Southern Africa Regional Office), Korto Williams, Governance and Leadership Consultant, UN Women South Sudan and Joy Wani, Program Officer, UN Women South Sudan were present and represented the UN Women.
For Liberia, the President Pro-tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, Senator Debah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County, Senator Botoe Kanneh of Gbapolu County, and Representative Gbessie Sonii Feika among few other Women lawmakers represented the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia.
The high-powered delegation from the Republic of South Sudan which is led by UN Women has been in Liberia since March 23, 2024, and is expected to conclude the visit on March 31, 2024.
Apart from the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia, the delegation is also expected to meet with various stakeholders including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Representative in Liberia, Government officials including Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the National Elections Commission, the Justice Ministry and the United Nations Country Team in Liberia.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, champions global efforts to accelerate progress towards meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide. By positioning gender equality as fundamental to the sustainable Development Goals, UN Women works towards creating a more inclusive world for all.
