SECOND LADY SYNLESEH KOUNG HOSTS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

March 4, 2025

By Ida Reeves

Monrovia: The Second lady of Liberia Madam Synleseh Koung is expected to host a National Conference for women and girls living with disabilities in Liberia in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

Celebrated on March 8 every year, International Women’s Day recognizes women’s contributions in various fields and raises awareness around gender equality, the promotion of women’s empowerment and highlights women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements while advocating for their rights around the globe.

It’s the first in many years that women and girls living with disabilities in Liberia will benefit from an exclusive National Conference commemorating Women’s Day.

Scheduled for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Women and Girls living with Disabilities will gather at the SKD Basketball Gymnasium for the National Conference to talk about issues that affect them the most and later progress they have made despite many challenges.

“Tomorrow, March 5, 2025, we will gather at the SKD Basketball Gymnasium for the National Conference for Women and Girls with Disabilities in Liberia. For too long, the voices of women with disabilities have been unheard, and their struggles overlooked” Madam Synleseh Stephenie Dahn-Koung noted.

She added “They have faced barriers to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and justice, barriers that no human should endure, but today, we say no more. as second Lady of Liberia, I stand with you. We see you; we hear you, and we will continue to fight alongside you”.

The National Conference will bring together one thousand women and girls from across the 17 districts from 17 organizations partnering with the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD) and the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD).

Those expected to grace the National Conference are Minister of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, United Nations Resident Coordinator Amb. Christine N. Umutoni, UN Women Country Representative, Madam Comfort Lamptey, Minister of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto and other key figures

“This conference will focus on advancing policies in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment to ensure women with disabilities are included in Liberia’s growth development.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, which calls for action to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for women and a feminist future where everyone is treated equally.

As per the United Nations, central to this vision is empowering the next generation youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls as catalysts for lasting change.

The origins of Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century when labor movements protested poor working conditions amid rapid industrialization. The National Women’s Day was established in the United States in 1909. In 1910, Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of International Women’s Day, after which the first celebrations were held in multiple countries in 1911.

It started being celebrated on March 8 as International Women’s Day after Russian women went on strike in 1917. Lastly, the United Nations formally recognized International Women’s Day in 1975, further cementing its global significance.

International Women’s Day ensures global solidarity among women from diverse backgrounds, encouraging discussions on policies and social norms that impact their lives.