THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT
Brussels – Montserrado County District #8 Representative Acarous Moses Gray, head of Liberia’s delegation to the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliament’s 62nd session, gave an update on Liberia’s progress toward sustaining youth and women’s empowerment through legislative passage.
According to a dispatch from Brussels, Rep. Gray participated in discussions at the opening of the formal session of the 63rd OACPS at its headquarters in Brussels. These discussions covered topics of strategic focus, such as cooperation among member states and their connections with the European Union, the growth of its partnership and visibility within the global framework, climate change, the food and energy crisis, and current international issues.
The 63rd session of the OEACP Parliamentary Assembly and the 43rd session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly are being held in Brussels, Belgium, and are being attended by lawmakers from member states of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific.
Rep. Acarous M. Gray, who represents the legislature of the Republic of Liberia, is actively participating in the protracted 10-day sessions that address important global and regional issues.
Hon. Ana Rita Sithole, Speaker of the Mozambique Parliament and the current President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly made a statement during the opening session, outlining the current situation with regard to many challenges faced by OACPS Countries as well as some unresolved issues surrounding the signing of the Post-Cotonou Agreement with the European Union. She reiterated her commitment to increasing the Parliamentary Assembly’s prominence, bolstering the body, and forming relationships with significant strategic assemblies.
Hon. Acarous M. Gray, who took the floor during these discussions, complimented Rita Sithole, the presiding officer. He urged his colleagues to start by enacting domestic laws and policies that will focus on youth and women’s sustainable development. In addition to other laws and policies, he mentioned the National Youth Policy and the Gender Parity Act as Liberia’s tools for addressing these problems.
The National Youth Policy and the Gender Parity Act, according to Liberian lawmaker, are important milestones toward building an inclusive and equal society.
“These policies and laws have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of young people and women, fostering their empowerment and promoting sustainable development.”
Rep. Gray added that the National Youth Policy can act as a comprehensive framework to address the unique requirements, aspirations, and difficulties experienced by the youth population in Liberia. He noted that it is a provision for civic engagement, education, employment, skill development, and business.
Representative Gray maintained that the act will provide young people with the resources and opportunities they need to flourish, contribute to society, and develop into future leaders by giving priority to these areas.
The Gender Parity Act, according to Hon. Gray, shows the House of Representatives dedication to advancing gender equality and making sure that women receive equal representation and opportunities.
He added that it is essential to allocate sufficient resources, set up monitoring and evaluation systems, and work with relevant stakeholders, such as youth organizations, women’s groups, and civil society, in order to ensure the successful implementation of these policies and laws.
According to him, regular evaluations and feedback loops will make sure that the policies continue to be sensitive to the changing needs of young people and women, measure progress, and point out areas for improvement.
“By championing sustainable development and gender equality through these policies and laws, the representative is playing a vital role in building a fair, inclusive, and prosperous society. Their commitment to empowering youth and women is commendable and will undoubtedly contribute to a brighter future for all.”
The Liberian lawmaker also voted in favor of the following resolutions: strengthening parliamentary solidarity and political will for road safety in OACPS and EU countries, including safe infrastructures; combating money laundering and the financing of tourism; enhancing cooperation on maritime security; promoting the rule of law on the oceans and Africom procedures; and the humanitarian and security situation in Haiti.
