By Daniel Garteh
The national traditional Council of Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment in the fight against Gender Base violence in the Country.
Making the committee through a communication read by Isaac B. Gbarpue on behalf of Chief Zanzan Karwor in Tienii Grand Cape Mount during the official launch of the EU Spotlight initiative, the council said it was committed to the fight against GBV in the country.
The National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) was established by an act of legislation to promote, preserve and foster positive Liberian culture and tradition and also serve as an advisory arm to the government.
Before the establishment of the Council, the traditional community, most especially traditional women in Liberia were not recognize as regard to decision making and participation in developmental agenda of the nation or in their respective communities.
The communication read by Gbarpue further explained that the Traditional council at first did not know the importance of women participation in decision making in society.
The lauded Liberia’s vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, Liberia international partners for their efforts towards the fight for women and gender equity in the country.
“We traditional leaders felt confused and furious when it was first said gender equality. We thought it was disrespect to our traditional thrones that saw women as just people of no quality. My fellow Liberians and our International partners let me tell you that by disregarding the important of women, we, man were the ones carrying the heavy burdens unknowingly.
“By suppressing the rights of women, we were suppressing ourselves. By holding them down, we were refusing to develop our land, by shutting their mouths, we were wearying ourselves up by doing all the talking alone, by stopping their ideas from flowing in decision making, we were making ourselves older before our time because we must concentrate day and night without sleep”, the statement reads.
”But now take a look around you and see how far we have come over the past few years with women walking side by side with us the man,” the communication maintained.
Traditional council achievements
The traditional council further outlined few of their achievements for the fight against Gender Base Violence and women protection in partnership with other international organizations.
Liberia been a founding member of the ‘’COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS OF AFRICA (COTLA)’’. The organization was established to monitor and work toward the well been of women and girls in Africa. It was founded in Lagos, Nigeria after several consultative meetings in Naroibi Kenya, Blantyre Malawi.
It was launched in Addis Ababa on February 11, 2019 at the AU Summit with our traditional Council represented with support from UN WOMEN.
Also With support from UNFPA, on June 3, 2019, Liberian Traditional Leaders committed themselves to ending Teenage pregnancy by signing a declaration.
The historic document was presented to the legislature through Sen. Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence.
The National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia sent its first ever delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York City this year.
In addressing the issue of all harmful traditional practices, the Council is working hard with other partners to make sure women and girls live out the true meanings of their lives.
The council cautioned all citizens to work together and make Liberia a better place for all and claimed that the day will go down in history because of its purposefulness.
