MONROVIA: With support from UN Women Country Office in Liberia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs over the weekend launched its Gender, Social Inclusion Policy and Five Years Action Plan in Monrovia.
Giving the broad overview of the launched initiative, MIA Director of Gender and Social Inclusion, Madam Cecelia J. Gould said the event marks a significant movement in a collective journey towards a more inclusive and equitable Justice in society.
The launch, according to her, symbolizes, not only the continuation of a vision for gender equality, but also the commitment of the current government to realize the mission of gender inclusion.
It also focusses on mainstreaming gender equality in the implementation of gender and social evolution policy.
“This policy, as you know, is an outcome of several years of development beginning in honor of the previous government and administration and is emerging out of their ongoing national gender Policy,” she said.
Madam Gould said the national gender policy is not only merely a document.
It is the envelope of years of collaboration research for our sites that reflects the voices and the needs of our communities especially women and marginalized people,” she explained.
The MIA Gender and Social Inclusion Director said the National Gender Policy (MGP) has been a longstanding effort supported by multiple stakeholders, including government, civil society, international partners intended for a robust general policy framework.
It is with great pride that we honor, the current Administration for this great implementation today. The launch of this gender and social policy is aimed to fulfilling the promise made on the NGP,” she added.
Director Gould said the gender and social inclusion policy, reflects a holistic approach to addressing gender, equalities, and social disparity across all sectors of the society.
The event is not simply the formal introduction of a policy, but is the beginning of a critical phase with implementation which has been developed.
“With a deep understanding of Liberia’s, social political and economic landscape, the policy will now put into action the real work.
The Ministry Gender emphasized that the launch serves as a call to action, a call for all citizens, whether as government officials, community leaders or ordinary citizens to step forward and take ownership of this agenda.
“Social inclusion policy provides the framework for a series of initiatives that are designed to empower and uplift marginalized population, eliminate gender-based violence, promote women, women’s economic empowerment, ensure equal access to education, healthcare, and foster and environment of inclusion at all levels of the sighting,” she said.
Meanwhile, Internal Affairs Deputy Minister for Research and Development Planning, Edward K. Mulbah underscored the need for strong collaboration. “Gender social inclusion is everybody business,” Mr. Mulbah added.
For her part, UN Women Deputy Country Representative, Yemi Falayajo, congratulated the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and pleaded with UN Women to continue supporting the gender social inclusion policy.
” We are willing to work very closely with the ministry of internal affairs and we want to congratulate you on that great step taken” she said.
The UN Women Deputy Country Representative described the launched initiative as a bold move.
It demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment in promoting gender social inclusion in Liberia, she added.
The launch exercise was witnessed by national and international organizations, government ministries and agencies including the media and was held at a local hotel in Monrovia with support from UN Women Liberia office.
