An assessment report has been released on a survey that highlights Violence Against Women in Elections and Politics in Liberia. The survey is being jointly conducted by the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC-Liberia), UN Women, and the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP).
During an online presentation held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at One UN House in Monrovia, Dr. Theresa de Langis and Ora Barclay highlighted key findings on the status of Liberian women in elections and politics, emphasizing the urgent need for increased participation and stronger protections.
In a statement of solidarity, NEC Oversight Commissioner for Gender, Josephine Kou Gaye, expressed concern over the persistently low participation of women in politics, despite ongoing advocacy and awareness efforts across Liberia.
At the same time, the Chief Technical Advisor of UNDP-LESP, Katherine Green, noted that although Liberia has signed several international protocols on violence against women, the country ranks 161 out of 192 in ensuring equal rights for women’s representation. Madam Green warned that women’s full participation in elections and politics will remain significantly hindered as long as violence against women continues.
The event brought together nearly 50 participants, predominantly women from various institutions, including NEC’s Gender and Political Affairs Sections, the Governments of Sweden and Ireland, the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), LEON, and COPPWIL.
