General
Source: All Africa
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has committed Liberia to some aspects of Goal No. 5 of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted last weekend by the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to a dispatch, the Liberian leader made the commitment at an event on gender equality and women's empowerment on Sunday, September 27, 2015.
In committing her administration, President Sirleaf said before the end of her tenure, she shall endeavor to ensure the domestic violence bill is passed into law; ban female genital mutilation (FGM) and ensure women participation in politics.
On the domestic violence bill, the Liberian president promised to collaborate with the National Legislature to pass into law the proposed Domestic Violence Act endorsed by the Liberian Cabinet on June 15, 2015 and currently before the lawmakers for enactment. The draft Bill defines Domestic Violence pursuant to Article 2 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.
As regards ban on female genital mutilation, President Sirleaf committed to ensure the complete adherence to the enforcement of the ban on female genital mutilation in light of the backdrop that the 2011 Law on Children offers protection against all forms of violence including FGM which is against such practice.
On women participation in politics, the Liberian leader pledged to ensure the ongoing Constitution Review process in Liberia guarantees women's full participation in governance and national affairs on a parity basis.
During the Constitution Review Conference early this year, the women of Liberia proposed five critical issues to be captured in the constitution amongst which were (a) equal representation and participation of women in all sectors of Liberia (elected, appointed and selected) should be reflected in the constitution; (b) a Parity Bill is currently being discussed before the National Legislature. Taking this into consideration, the Women of Liberia propose that the 30 percent quota which was proposed in 2010 be increased to 50 percent and that the scope is broadened to include all sectors (public and private) of Liberia.
The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which comes into effect on January 1, 2016, has set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets to achieve over the next 15 years. This 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development seeks to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. It seeks to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The new SDGs are integrated, indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.
Specifically, Goal No. 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere;
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation;
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation;
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate;
Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life;
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences;
Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws;
Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communication technology, to promote the empowerment of women;
Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.