Liberia President George Manneh Weah has addressed the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America. Speaking at the world event, President Weah cautioned the world body that the challenges confronting the world today will require immediate collective global actions with the United Nations at the center of the search for solutions. He noted that in so doing, the UN must give special consideration to the needs of developing countries, particularly, the Least Developed Countries; in line with the Doha Program of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade; 2022-2031.
According to Mr. Weah, Liberia pledges to safeguard the environment, advance peace, prevent conflicts, provide sustainable finance, and foster partnerships by cooperating with the United Nations family. The Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, which embodies the expression of his government’s shared determination to achieve peace, prosperity, and national development; address extreme poverty, inequalities, regional disparities, deficits in infrastructure, climate change, and equitable distribution of national wealth, he said, reflects the commitment.
The Liberian Leader stated that his government began a program for youth rehabilitation and empowerment called the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Disadvantaged Youth Project between 2019 and 2021. This was followed by the launch of a 13-million-dollar national fund drive for the rehabilitation and empowerment of at-risk youth in Liberia. A positive transformation and a driving force for production, he said, can occur when young people are given the necessary tools.
President George Weah stated that his administration’s top priority continues to be the development of gender equality and women’s empowerment. According to him, in addition to making up nearly half of the population of the nation and playing significant roles at all societal levels, women also deserve equal attention, support, and a seat at the leadership and governance levels in society. Mr. Weah emphasized that in order to address gender inequalities that are brought about by sociocultural perceptions, practices, and stereotypes that support male dominance and the subordination of women, his government has created a legal framework, including the ratification of regional and international instruments.
The Liberian Leader informed the 77th UN General Assembly that his Government, together with UN partners, is implementing the EU Spotlight Initiative to end violence and harmful traditional practices against women and girls and promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Traditional practices against women in Liberia have affected many women and girls around the country, especially the “PORO” group. He added that his Government is currently implementing a 50-Million United States Dollars ECOWAS-funded project to enhance the capacity of female entrepreneurs.
Mr. Weah expressed gratitude to Liberia’s regional, global, and bilateral partners for continuing to support the nation’s efforts to fight the pandemic. He stated that as a consequence of that support, Liberia is well on its way to obtaining herd immunity, with 67% of the population having already received all recommended vaccinations.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
