WONGOSOL Liberia: Urges Boakai on Women's Transitional Justice

• The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to prioritize women's leadership, transitional justice, and reconciliation.
• WONGOSOL noted that President Boakai's UN General Assembly address lacked explicit focus on Liberia's transitional justice process and women's specific roles in peacebuilding.
• The organization called for Liberia's Women, Peace and Security commitments to move from recognition to concrete implementation, financing, participation, and accountability.
• WONGOSOL highlighted the need for explicit attention to outstanding transitional justice priorities, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and accountability for conflict-era crimes.
• The group emphasized that commitments to women's leadership require adequate resources, implementation plans, and legislative reforms to become sustainable policy.

Commitments lacking the necessary resources, effective implementation mechanisms, and clear accountability frameworks cannot evolve into sustainable policy.

The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has issued a direct appeal to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, urging him to place the advancement of women's leadership, the pursuit of transitional justice, and national reconciliation at the forefront of Liberia's strategy to rebuild public trust and solidify peace. This significant call follows President Boakai's address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, where his remarks centered on themes of restoring confidence, navigating societal changes, strengthening international cooperation, promoting peace and security, fostering inclusive development, and reforming global governance structures.

While WONGOSOL acknowledged the President's recognition of women's crucial role in achieving sustainable peace, economic prosperity, and accountable governance, the organization expressed a view that Liberia's message to the global community could have been more comprehensive. Specifically, WONGOSOL highlighted the absence of explicit references to the nation's ongoing transitional justice processes and the indispensable contributions of women to peacebuilding, justice, and reconciliation efforts within the President's UN General Assembly Liberia address. Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL, underscored that Liberia's journey from conflict to a constitutional democracy cannot be fully appreciated without recognizing the profound impact of women in peacebuilding, the experiences of victims and survivors, and the unresolved aspects of transitional justice.

WONGOSOL emphasized that President Boakai's focus on preventive diplomacy, mediation, and early warning systems must be complemented by the active and meaningful participation of women in these critical processes. The organization pointed to Liberia's historical narrative, which clearly illustrates women's pivotal roles not only as those affected by conflict but also as instrumental figures in peacebuilding, mediation, community leadership, early-warning initiatives, and advocacy for reconciliation. Consequently, WONGOSOL is advocating for Liberia's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) commitments to transcend mere acknowledgment, moving decisively towards concrete implementation, dedicated financing, genuine participation, and robust accountability mechanisms.

The organization firmly believes that women should be fully integrated into the foundational structures responsible for designing and executing conflict prevention strategies and ensuring sustainable peace. This advocacy coincides with Liberia's recent launch of its third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, an event marked by a high-level side gathering hosted by the government during the 81st UNGA, themed "From Pioneers to Global Leaders: Liberia’s Journey in Women, Peace and Security." WONGOSOL further challenged the government to translate its commitments regarding women's leadership into tangible access to political decision-making roles, economic resources, security institutions, peace processes, and national development planning.

A primary concern articulated by WONGOSOL revolves around what it perceived as insufficient explicit attention given to transitional justice within the President’s formal UN General Assembly Liberia address. Although the organization noted that the address extensively covered themes such as restoring trust, strengthening institutions, accountability, the rule of law, and Liberia's transition from conflict to constitutional democracy—issues intrinsically linked to the nation's transitional justice agenda—it felt a crucial element was missing.

WONGOSOL contended that the address should have prominently featured Liberia’s outstanding transitional justice priorities. These include the recommendations of the Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission, ensuring accountability for Liberia conflict-era crimes, addressing the needs of victims and survivors, providing reparations, fostering reconciliation, and establishing memorialization initiatives. The organization specifically urged the government to clearly outline the necessary steps for the establishment and effective operation of these vital mechanisms.

WONGOSOL underscored the necessity of backing commitments to women's leadership with adequate and predictable financial resources, comprehensive implementation plans, and affirmative legislative and governance reforms. Referencing President Boakai’s own assertion that "When women lead, peace agreements last longer, economies grow faster, and governance becomes more accountable," WONGOSOL stressed that such declarations require substantive support to become reality.

The organization articulated that commitments lacking the necessary resources, effective implementation mechanisms, and clear accountability frameworks cannot evolve into sustainable policy. This stance highlights a critical need for the Liberian government to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate a tangible dedication to integrating women into all facets of peacebuilding and governance, ensuring that the nation's transitional justice processes are fully realized.

Lawyers and compliance officers operating in Liberia should monitor the government's response to WONGOSOL's advocacy, as it signals potential future legislative reforms, new accountability mechanisms for conflict-era crimes, and enhanced gender-responsive policy implementations, particularly concerning transitional justice and women's participation in governance and peacebuilding.

Source: Original reporting via FrontPageAfrica