Promotes Gender Equality
Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – Bong County Attorney, Cllr. Jonathan N. Flomo, has described the Ministry of Justice’s Workplace Safeguard Policy and Gender-Sensitive Communication Strategy as critical instruments for strengthening institutional reform, workplace accountability, equality, and professionalism within the justice sector.
Cllr. Flomo made the statement in his closing remarks following a six-day working session convened to technically review and validate the two strategic documents at the Ministry of Justice’s Regional Hub in Gbarnga. He said the frameworks demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to creating an institutional culture that reflects the principles of justice, fairness, dignity, equality, and respect that its officials and employees are mandated to uphold.
According to him, the Workplace Safeguard Policy will provide a framework for ensuring that employees operate in an environment characterized by dignity, mutual respect, fairness, accountability, and zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, intimidation, retaliation, abuse of authority, and other forms of workplace misconduct.
“The Workplace Safeguard Policy represents the Ministry’s collective commitment to ensuring that every employee works in an environment characterized by dignity, mutual respect, fairness, accountability, and zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, intimidation, retaliation, abuse of authority, and every other form of workplace misconduct,” Cllr. Flomo said.
He further explained that the Gender-Sensitive Communication Strategy will serve as a practical guide for promoting equality, inclusion, respect, and professionalism in the Ministry’s internal and external communications.
However, the Bong County Attorney said effective implementation of the two frameworks would help create a safer and more inclusive workplace while strengthening public confidence in the Ministry of Justice as an institution that practices the values it is responsible for enforcing.
Cllr. Flomo also praised participants in the six-day exercise for their commitment, professionalism, and active participation, urging them to take ownership of the implementation process. He also commended Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, for his leadership and commitment to advancing gender equality and social inclusion within the Ministry.
Cllr. Flomo extended similar appreciation to development partners, particularly UN Women-Liberia, through its Country Representative, Mr. Abul Hasnat Monjurul Kabir, for providing technical and financial support to the Ministry’s Gender Social Inclusion Unit in developing and advancing the two instruments.
For his part, the Assistant Director of the Gender Social Inclusion Unit at the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Laward, expressed appreciation to the Bong County authorities for hosting the technical review and validation exercise. He said the exercise was intended to strengthen the Ministry’s approach to gender equality, gender-sensitive language, workplace conduct, and inclusive communication.
Laward also praised Minister Tweh for what he described as his steadfast leadership and commitment to promoting gender equality and social inclusion within the Ministry. He acknowledged the continued support of development partners, particularly UN Women-Liberia, in the development of the policy documents.
According to him, the two documents reviewed and validated during the exercise are now awaiting approval and are expected to promote decent work ethics, professionalism, workplace accountability, and protection of employees from harassment and other forms of misconduct.
He said the Gender-Sensitive Communication Strategy will help establish a unified communication approach across the Ministry by promoting inclusive representation, gender-inclusive language, visibility, empowerment, awareness, and social change.
Laward noted that the development of the instruments was informed by relevant national and international legal frameworks and protocols aimed at strengthening gender equality, social inclusion, workplace protection, and institutional accountability.
The review and validation exercise was conducted in two three-day sessions from July 20–25, 2026, allowing participants to work in three groups to independently review the documents and provide inputs and recommendations for consideration by the final approving committee.
Also, the Ministry of Justice’s Gender Social Inclusion Unit is partnering with UN Women-Liberia to conduct a Gender-Responsive Prison Assessment in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties. The assessment seeks to identify gaps in the treatment and provision of services to different categories of detainees, with particular attention to pregnant women, mothers with infants, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable detainees.
The initiative is also intended to ensure that Liberia’s correctional practices remain consistent with its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and Liberia’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
Meanwhile, the assessment will examine prison infrastructure, health services, rehabilitation programs, protection mechanisms, and other correctional practices through a gender-responsive lens. It will also identify systemic policy and institutional gaps affecting detainees and generate evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, improving correctional services, and advancing inclusive justice reforms.
The six-day working session forms part of the Ministry of Justice’s broader efforts to strengthen institutional governance, promote gender-responsive practices, and build a professional workplace culture grounded in justice, equality, accountability, and human dignity. Participants included county justice officials, representatives of civil society organizations, local authorities, justice actors, and directors from various departments and sections of the Ministry of Justice.
