Women, Peace & Security
In solidarity with the women of the region, Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) is actively supporting the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET) and the Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC) their joint effort for political stabilization and to participate and women’s presidential to election in Liberia.
A high level delegation of Femmes Africa Solidarité is due to arrive in Monrovia to observe the presidential election in Liberia. The delegation members coming from
Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, countries where FAS is implementing a project on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The objective of the mission is to participate and support a collaborative effort to encourage peace building, mediation and conflict resolution towards ensuring free, fair and non-violent Presidential and general elections to be held in Liberia on October 11, 2011
Ensuring that all citizens - regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status or gender - are able to participate in decision-making processes is paramount to build a culture of inclusive and participatory governance, and is a key tenet of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, which emphasizes the need for women’s participation and representation at all decision-making levels.
FAS, ABIC and MARWOPNET aim to train, orient and deploy 100 women from the Mano River Union countries and other African countries as elections observers in Liberia. Elections will be observed, results at polling stations counted, verified and reported. Women thus actively participate in the electoral and peace building processes in accordance with UNSCRs 1325.
The women of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, and by extension all citizens of the Mano River Union countries, will benefit from these electoral and security initiatives in the short term, and they will help pave a long-term path towards peace and stability throughout the Region.
From the grassroots level to regional and international organizations and national governments, the women of the Mano River Region in West Africa continue to work towards political stability and peace for their communities and countries.