Liberia Defense Ministry: Gender Policy Review MOU Signed

• The Feminist Coalition, led by medica Liberia, signed an MOU with the Liberia Ministry of National Defense to revise its Gender Policy.
• The initiative, part of the "Stronger Together" project, aims for a strengthened, gender-responsive policy framework for the defense sector.
• The revision process will include stakeholder consultations, data analysis, and drafting a new policy and action plan.
• Key areas of focus include women's participation, equal opportunity, SGBV prevention, and gender-responsive budgeting within the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Liberia.
• Both the Feminist Coalition and the Ministry of National Defense expressed strong commitment to ensuring the policy is practical, inclusive, and effectively implemented.

Policies are not merely static documents; they actively shape institutions, influence priorities, guide decision-making, inform budgets and resource allocation, and ultimately translate commitments into tangible action.

The Liberian Ministry of National Defense (MoND) has formalized a significant partnership with the Feminist Coalition (FCP), with medica Liberia (mL) acting as the lead representative, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaborative agreement is specifically designed to facilitate a thorough review and subsequent revision of the Ministry's existing Gender Policy. Operating under the umbrella of the "Stronger Together – A Gender Transformative Action Coalition Project," the FCP brings together five prominent feminist and women’s rights organizations: medica Liberia, the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Sisters4Sisters Liberia, the Radical Young Women Movement in Liberia (RAYWOM), and the Liberia Feminist Forum (LFF).

The MOU was officially signed by Cllr. Yah V. Parwon, Country Director of medica Liberia, representing the Feminist Coalition, and Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., the Acting Minister of National Defense, on behalf of the Ministry. This strategic alliance aims to establish a more robust, practical, and gender-responsive policy framework for Liberia’s defense and security institutions. The updated policy is intended to accurately reflect current institutional realities while upholding Liberia’s commitments to gender equality, women’s participation in peace and security initiatives, human rights, and principles of inclusive governance.

Under the terms of the recently signed agreement, the involved parties will embark on a multi-faceted process to achieve their objectives. This includes a comprehensive review of the current Gender Policy, extensive stakeholder consultations to gather diverse perspectives, and meticulous data collection and analysis. These foundational steps will inform the drafting of a revised Gender Policy and an accompanying Action Plan. The final stages will involve both internal and external validation processes to ensure the documents are robust and widely accepted.

This initiative provides a crucial opportunity to identify and address emerging gender-related challenges within the defense sector. The revised policy seeks to strengthen institutional approaches concerning women's participation and leadership, promote equal opportunity for all personnel, and enhance the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Furthermore, it will focus on safeguarding measures, accountability mechanisms, and the integration of gender-responsive planning and budgeting across the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), thereby advancing Liberia defense sector gender mainstreaming efforts.

Fenny Taylor-Diggs, Project Manager for medica Liberia, speaking on behalf of Cllr. Yah V. Parwon, underscored the critical role of feminist and civil society engagement in fortifying institutional policies and practices. She articulated that this partnership offers a vital avenue to infuse feminist perspectives, specialized technical expertise, and the lived realities of individuals directly into a policy process that profoundly impacts Liberia’s defense and security apparatus. Taylor-Diggs emphasized that policies are not merely static documents; they actively shape institutions, influence priorities, guide decision-making, inform budgets and resource allocation, and ultimately translate commitments into tangible action. This sentiment highlights the transformative potential of the Liberia Ministry of National Defense Gender Policy revision.

For his part, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., the Acting Minister of National Defense, affirmed the unwavering commitment of both the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Liberia to ensuring that women are afforded equal opportunities to serve. He stated that gender equality is a principle not taken for granted within the defense establishment, emphasizing that the AFL, as a force for good, strives to guarantee women the same opportunities as men in defending the nation, recognizing their equal ability and capability. Cllr. Tweh further explained that the MOU's purpose is to scrutinize the existing National Defense Gender Policy, assessing its relevance to present-day realities, identifying areas for strengthening or amendment, and determining what additional elements it must incorporate to ensure effective implementation.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising entities within or interacting with Liberia's defense sector should monitor the ongoing review and revision of the Ministry of National Defense's Gender Policy, as it will likely lead to updated internal regulations, compliance requirements regarding gender equality, SGBV prevention, and equal opportunity within the Armed Forces of Liberia.

Source: Reporting based on local media accounts.