Source: The News
The passage of a draft law seeking to provide 30 percent women participation in all political parties was stalled recently by a motion for reconsideration made by Nimba County Senator Thomas Grupee.
Senator Grupee's motion for reconsideration angered several women leaders who have expressed disappointment in the senator's action.
Some of them told a local radio station that Senator Grupee is against women leadership.
However, Senator Grupee clarified that his motion for reconsideration on the passage of the bill is in the interest of women across the country.
"The insertion of the gender equality bill into the election reform bill will not serve the interest of women here," Grupee maintained.
According to him, the draft law discriminates against women and contravenes Article 11 and 18 of the Constitution of Liberia, which provides that all citizens irrespective of sex and religion be treated equally under the law.
He said it is wrong to restrict women's participation in political parties to 30 percent adding "this is not equality; equality should be 50 percent."
"These women need to understand that I am not against their interest, especially when it comes to political positions because I am a father who has three girls, a husband and a brother who has sisters," he said.
The Senator wants women's participation in political leadership to be done in a fair and equitable manner rather than 30 percent.
"How can you make a law that does not have enforcement power?" he inquired.
He believes that the law would only be good on the book because its enforcement would be difficult without any punishment for violators.