The African Union has acknowledged receipt of Liberia’s instrument of ratification of the African Women’s Rights Protocol bringing the total ratifications to 24. Congratulations to all!

Fourteen people, including a senator, have been charged with murder following a deadly land dispute that left at least 14 people dead in Liberia, the Solicitor General of Liberia said on Wednesday. "Senator Roland Kahn and 13 others were charged last night," Tiawon Gongloe said via telephone.

The UN refugee agency has helped almost 900 Liberians return home from other West African countries since resuming a voluntary repatriation programme in mid-April. UNHCR, with aircraft space provided by the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has flown home 646 returnees from Ghana, 196 from Guinea and 41 from Nigeria since April 13.

The Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) welcomes the steps taken by Liberia to adopt a Freedom of Information law for the country and calls on the National Legislature to expedite action in passing the Freedom of Information Bill submitted to it last month by a coalition of ordinary citizens, media and civil society organizations.

The top United Nations official in Liberia has called for furthering the rights of women as a crucial element in advancing peace and development in the West African nation that is recovering from a decade-long civil war.

A United Nations-backed campaign to stamp out rape in Liberia, the highest reported crime in the West African country as it recovers from a devastating civil war, has been extended to the north with a senior UN official calling for full implementation of the law.

Created in collaboration with Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia, the interactive site is the first of its kind for a truth commission. Its creators hope it will play a key part in Liberia's reconciliation process, bringing video footage of the TRC's work to Liberians around the world. "By hosting videos on our website, we hope to better engage Liberians at home and around the world in the work of the TRC" says TRC Chairman Jerome J. Verdier.

Liberian refugees in Ghana, mostly women, protested in hopes the U.N. would help them find new homes in Western countries. Now they are in a makeshift camp, fearing mass deportation to a homeland with an 85 percent jobless rate.

Hundreds of Liberian women living in Ghana have suspended a five-week sit-in protest against their repatriation. The women ended their demonstration at Buduburam refugee camp in Central Province after Liberia's envoy visited.

Mr. Bropleh is a wise man [A Cultural Paradigm for Liberia's Reconstruction, There is a saying that a person does not know where they are going until they know from where they’ve come. Personal and national pride comes from truly knowing oneself and one's history. We lose our uniqueness, our flavor, when our culture is diluted to a point where it’s non-recognizable. How do you stand out when you've become like everyone esle? What do we teach our children about Liberian History when we don't know it ourselves? Here's to hoping that the current/future leadership and educators guide the young minds in the history, art, and culture that produce national pride and thereby, self pride.

Charles Taylor celebrated his rise to power in Liberia with a ceremony involving a human sacrifice, burying a pregnant woman alive in sand, one of his former military commanders has testified. The admission came during a trial at The Hague where the former president is accused of war crimes.

I have read through Liberia Women (http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/46522) with sadness. God created Women as companions to men to love and cherish, not to brutalise. Do the men of Liberia not know the joy of love that a woman can give. With the love and support of a good woman man can acheive many things.

Una Kumba Thompson talks about the special challenges facing Liberian women and calls for greater solidarity amongst African women.

For over two years Africa and the world has seen and witnessed the rise and fall of Liberia. Starting from the 1800s with the arrival of free slaves to the shores of West Africa, leading to the declaration and independence of Liberia in July 26, 1847.
 
Since that time, Liberia has served as a beacon of hope for Africa, until 1980 when this “proclaimed” peaceful country experienced its first calamity of a bloody coup de tait. The country thereafter degenerated into anarchy and chaos, with rampant corruption, human rights abuses and bad governance as its hall mark. 

1990 civil war was the final result of one hundred and forty years of rule of successive governments. It is estimated that over 250.000 Liberians and other nationals died in this crisis; including raping of women/girls, sporadic killing, execution of civilians and destruction of millions of dollars of property, infrastructure and a complete break down of the rule of Law.  Liberia became a “no mans” land with its people fleeing and seeking refugee in various African, European countries including America; thousands languishing in refugee camps. The once beloved nation, one that African countries strived to emulate had become a sad story. 

Just as everything must come to an end, so it was that the civil crisis came to an end in 2003.The ushering in of another interim government with the support of regional and international organizatons, countries lead the process of the general elections of Liberia.

The election of 2005 saw again the transformation of Liberia, setting once more a record in African history as the first African country to elect a woman as their President H.E Ellen Johnson – Salieaf.  

Liberia is once again on the rise, showing to Africa and the world at large that indeed women are capable of leading their nations. African women as well as Liberian women are now singing the song “this is our time” while African men are now realizing that times have changed and that women also can be Heads of state.  

Fingers are pointing to, heads are turning towards, and eyes are focused on Liberian not in pity but in admiration- setting the pace once more for true democracy  in the African continent.

DEFINING A NEW ERA FOR LIBERIAN WOMEN

Liberian women have felt the tied of woes over the years, paid the price of successes, failures in blood, tears, sacrifice even unto death. Their sufferings are untold, their numerous contributions, yet not recorded. 

Today, Liberian women are more conscious of their rights to political, social and economic inclusion and their significant contributions. It is in recognition of these rights that their issues are identified in order to correct the wrongs and rebuild Liberia for sustainable and lasting peace. 

There are many issues that women are faced with in Liberia that were never considered National issues, but norms of the society and community. This orientation is a major cause of women marginalization, discrimination, exclusion and human rights abuse. 

Some of the prevalent issues that are of grave concern are; Gender Based Violence (GBV) { rape, domestic violence, Sexual exploitation), Harmful Cultural practices, particularly FGM, the lack of marketable vocational and technical skills, illiteracy and access to Justice. 

Before the civil war, women/girls were seen as sex objects, to provide sex for the pleasure of men be it by coercion, force, exploitation, mutual agreement or violence. Sexual abuse was never a topic to be discussed in private or public. The Liberian government and society perpetuated a culture of violence against women that saw the escalation of rampant sexual abuse against women and girls during the war. Even though the guns are silent, women and girls continue to suffer sexual violence. 

The lack of political will to implement laws to protect women/girls and the acceptance of harmful cultural practices,( FGM, beatings, killings, arranged child manages, incest, rape, dowry or bride price) are major contributing factors to the high rate of illiteracy, violence and vulnerability of women in Liberia. 

For this and many other reasons, WOLPNET- Women of Liberia Peace Network, a non political, governmental organization, has joined the vanguard to promote women’s rights and to advocate for the adherence to and implementation of national conventions such as the AU Protocol to support, protect and enhance women social economic, civil, liberty and political development. 

With the collaboration and financial support from regional and international organizations, WOLPNET is engaging communities, public and policy makers through its program/projects to sensitize and highlight these issues affecting women Advocating for change in policy, ending violence against women, elimination of harmful cultural practices (Female Genital Mutilation), right to dignity, life, and integrity. 

Through its media program, Women Agenda, WOLPNET is spreading the message of positive change; a change that is transforming and defining politics in Liberia; a change that must also be realized in the lives of women by the elimination of vices that impede women progress, calling for full implementation of; Article 2 elimination of discrimination against women ,Article ¾ rights to dignity, life integrity and security of the person Article 8, Access to justice and equal protection before the law by the AU Protocol on Human and peoples rights on the right of women in Africa. 

To my sisters and women, I urge you to say no to male supremacy, superiority, political domination, exclusion, discrimination and Violence against Women (VAW). Stand for peace, justice, equality and unity.  

The road is rocky and very rough right now, but my sisters, it has been for a long time before now. Like Liberian women, you have been excluded, abused, misused, disgraced, discriminated against and persecuted. 

Nevertheless, stand firm. Liberian women can do it you can do the same .Do not go down but stand up fighting for women’s right; your bodies may be broken but do not allow you sprit and minds to be broken. Remember, many are called but few are chosen- to lead the cause for justice and equality.   

*Una Kumba Thompson is CEO of Women of Liberia Peace Network (WOLPNET).

**Please send comments to or comment online at www.pambazuka.org
                       

With only one third of Liberians reaching the fifth grade of school and children less likely to read than their parents, the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a $20 million programme to help rebuild the education system of the West African country, which was gutted during a long, brutal civil war.

Charles Taylor's war crimes trial was adjourned on Thursday until Monday so the former Liberian President can rest on doctor's advice, a spokesman for the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone said. "He wasn't feeling well a few days back," the spokesman said on Thursday. "The doctor said it wasn't serious but he needed some rest. He came to court yesterday and today but the defence counsel asked for an adjournment so he could rest on doctor's advice."

Without a legal counsel Darius Dillion, assistant to Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, was on February 26, 2008, sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Liberia House of Representatives, for expressing his views on a bribery scandal in the Lower House. Dillion’s plea for a lawyer was ignored by the Lower House even though Liberia’s laws guarantee the right of an accused to legal counsel.

Following a management dispute, SMILE FM, a community radio station based in Zwedru, a north eastern-town, about 643 kilometres from Monrovia, the police on February 20, 2008 closed down the station.

Reporters Without Borders is deeply concerned to learn of journalist Sam O. Dean’s discovery that a thousand US dollars were offered for his murder. Dean, who publishes the Monrovia-based Independent Newspaper, appears to have narrowly escaped death on 30 January when an attempt was made to lure him into an ambush.

Workers at the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Liberia have for the first time won representation under a free union vote, throwing out the officials of a company-controlled union. The vote took place in July last year, but it took two court decisions and an unauthorized strike before officials finally agreed to negotiate with the new union and hand over their company-collected union dues. The union recognition is only a first step, however, in changing a system of brutal exploitation of child labor and virtual bondage for the rubber tappers.

Many Liberians observing the opening of the country’s first public truth and reconciliation commission hearings on 8 January were confused about what the hearings would mean if the accused would not be prosecuted afterwards.