The Liberia Women’s Authority with its International partners (UN Women, Swedish Embassy, Civil Society European Union, Local Women Network, UN, amongst others) has called on the government of Liberia to examine the linked drivers of risk within the context of climate change processes, and responses to the global climate challenges.
Speaking at their 66th session of the “Commission on the Status of Women” (CSW) on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, the partners called on the Examination of the Impact of Climate Change on Women & Girls in Liberia.
Liberia’s First Lady Madam Clar Marie Weah called for climate change adaptation planning in the country to address the gender imbalance between men and women, including boys and girls.
According to her, many women and girls in Liberia walk from their homes to fetch water, because the usual nearby pump, pipeline, creeks, and wells are dried up due to the effects of climate change.
“Understanding that Climate Change’s effects can be even more devastating on women and girls, we have made several interventions specifically seeking to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the global fight”, the First Lady noted.
Last year, through the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia and the Clar Hope Foundation, they encouraged Liberian women and fishmongers, to become dynamic by purchasing land and constructing a facility in the New Kru Town area on Bushrod Island for the preservation (smoking and drying) of fish which will further increase supplies on the domestic market and empower women economically.
During their hybrid side-event under the theme “Examining the Impact of Climate” the Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection, Ms. Williametta Saydee -Tarr called for strong advocacy in promoting gender equality at the societal level.
According to her, achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the concomitant marginalization of their voices with agencies’ participation and leadership of women & Girls in Liberia is of significance and timeliness.
Given the entrenchment of gender, the Gender Minister alarmed that, meetings to design new strategies, build networks and formulate ideas about ways to fight the emission will depend on the recent economic gains the society is beginning to witness.
She said, Women’s lacking rights, access, and control of resources, particularly land, forests, of intensifying and interlinked crises such as climate change, environmental degradation are the most challenges that are facing their respective regions.
“According to the Focal Point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for Liberia at the Environmental Protection Agency, the issue of climate change continues to be one of the major threats to the development as more than 90% of Liberia’s population depends on agriculture”, Minister Tarr asserted.
The Gender maintained that the exclusion of more women in the national and local governance system worsens the cases of climate change, environmental crises and disasters, waterways, ocean, and marine resources.
Also speaking, the UN Women Acting Head of Programs/ Acting Deputy Country Representative to Liberia, Ms. Ghoma Karloweah called, for the roll of their policy set up to target their framework in order to ensure that they are on their right trajectory.
She, however, called on Government and partners to look into the Future of the country by not only focusing on climate change issues but the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence women are facing in Society.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Urban Sjöström is calling on the government to provide equal access to its natural resources, with equal Political representation in the National decision-making process.
“Gender equality has made Countries move from poverty to prosperity”, Amb. Urban Sjöström Concluded.
