Source: The Inquirer
Five women groups in Liberia have sharply condemned the deaths of the seven women who were allegedly demonstrating peacefully in the streets of Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire on March 3, 2011 and are calling on partners to help in providing more assistance to the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict.

In a press conference held at the offices of the Mano River Women's Peace Network in Sinkor on Friday, Madam Ruth Caesar read the group's statement classifying the act as horrific which violates the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 1325 expressing that they stand in solidarity and mourn with their sisters in that neighboring country.

The groups which include, the Angie Brooks International Center, the Women NGO Secretariat, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia and the West African Network of Peace-building among other things said that the conflict in Cote d' Ivoire threatens to undo the efforts of thorough hard work for stability and investment in the Mano River region.

“The Women in the Mano River have sacrificed for peace and security. We call for the culprits of these murderers to be swiftly identified and held accountable for their actions,” the women stressed. They recounted the sufferings including the trauma women had to bear as a result of such conflicts.

Meanwhile, as the women plan to join other African women in a Million Women's March soon to the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, the five women groups also used the conference to launch a humanitarian appeal for assistance to help them provide immediate special needs for women and children.

They also requested the public to join in their effort by donating to the needs of these refugees, especially newborn babies and maternal mothers as was done during the recent prayer and fasting for God's intervention in the ongoing crisis.