Liberia
Liberia adopted their second National Action Plan in 2019, for the period 2019-2023. Following the NAP, the country's GENDER POLICY AND ACTION PLAN 2021–2025 was developed for the Liberian Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia. This first gender policy and action plan was developed as a result of the important collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in supporting the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security in Liberia. It acts as an important instrument to ensure that commitments made in the national action plan on women, peace and security 2019–2023 come to fruition.
Objectives/aims of the 2019-2023 NAP:
The overall goal of the NAP is: “Women and girls’ safety, physical and mental health and security are assured; and are fully protected under legislation and policies that promote their empowerment and full participation at all levels, in building sustainable and inclusive, peace and security in Liberia.”
There are five key strategic objectives, each supported by specific actions to be undertaken, and anticipated outcomes with indicators of achievement.
1) Prevention: Prevention of relapse into conflict and all forms of structural and physical violence against women and girls, including SGBV and violence committed under threat of terrorism
2) Protection: Women, young women and girls’ safety, physical and mental health are assured, and their human rights respected
3) Participation: Participation of women, young women and girls in decision-making processes related to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, humanitarian action and countering terrorism
4) Relief and recovery: Women and girls’ specific needs are met in relief, recovery and peacebuilding interventions, including under threat of terrorism, and especially those most vulnerable to violence
5) Coordination and accountability: Capacity and resources to coordinate, implement, monitor and report on WPS plans and programmes are ensured
Commentary:
Liberia’s civil wars lasted 14 years and ended in 2003 with the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Since then, the country has moved from a transitional government through three presidential elections, in 2005, 2011 and 2017. The first post-conflict elected President was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was also the first woman President in Africa.
Liberia builds on their first NAP which was published in 2009. The NAP 2019-2023 includes a section focused on lessons learned and progress made from the implementation of the first plan, and goes further by including budgets and timeframes for each activity.
Civil society engagement in development of the NAP:
The second generation of Liberia’s National Action Plan was revised and written after receipt of recommendations from civil society.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
As of November 2023, Liberia is contributing 161 Peacekeepers.
Women in Peacekeeping:
Liberia’s NAP is comprehensive with specific targets for increasing women’s participation in peacebuilding by 40% over the four years covered by the NAP.
Liberia’s NAP lists the existing and prevailing structural barriers to women’s participation in peace and security processes which include:
- weak and inadequate representation of women in national and local decision-making processes;
- insufficient and unequal access to natural and economic resources;
- strengthening of gender discriminatory relations within society and the family, and
- a poorly developed community infrastructure.
References and Sources:
Liberia National Action Plan 2019-2023: LNAP WPS_web.pdf (unwomen.org)
GENDER POLICY AND ACTION PLAN 2021–2025 For the Liberian Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia https://mod.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MOD_AFL-ActionPlan-Fin-PRINT-Rev-1.pdf
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country and Personnel Type (as of 30/11/2023): 05-Missions Detailed By Country
Uniformed Personnel Contributing Countries by Ranking (as of 30/11/2023): 02-Contributions by Country (Ranking)
