WONGOSOL Hails President Boakai’s Commitment to End FGM and Empower Women and Youth

September 24, 2025

By Ida Reeves

Monrovia: Women NGOs Secretarial of Liberia has applauded President Joseph Boakai for the group termed as historic commitment to end FGM and harmful traditional practices against women and children.

WONGOSOL’s Executive Esther Yango praised the President for prioritizing women’s and youth empowerment through Liberia’s Agenda for Inclusive Development thereby allocating US$8.3 billion to education, healthcare, social development, and gender equality for over five years something she said worth commanding.

The Liberian President at the UN Assembly especially during Beijing+30, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to move “from pledges to results. “What was once a three-year moratorium will now become national law, supported by nationwide dialogues and alternative livelihood programs.” Pres. Baokai said

The milestone according to Women NGOs Secretarial reflects decades of tireless advocacy by Women NGOs Secretarial of Liberia and other women’s rights groups across the country.

WONGOSOL is at the same time calling on the Legislature and all stakeholders to ensure the pledge made by the president becomes enforceable law and that real action reaches every community.

“While we celebrate, the work continues! We call on the Legislature and all stakeholders to ensure this pledge becomes enforceable law and that real action reaches every community.

WONGOSOL says it remains committed to working alongside the government, development partners, and grassroots communities to ensure that these words are transformed into lasting action.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai the Fourth World Conference on Women, held during the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the theme “Recommitting to Resourcing and Accelerating the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.”emphasized Liberia’s determination to translate pledges into tangible results, thirty years after the landmark Beijing Declaration laid out a global framework for advancing women’s rights.

“Liberia sees this anniversary not as a ceremonial occasion but as an urgent call to action,” the President said. Adding; “Under my leadership, Liberia is determined to move from pledges to results.”

The President announced that through Liberia’s Agenda for Inclusive Development, which is costed at US$8.38 billion to be implemented over five years, gender equality, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and social development will be placed at the center of the country’s national priorities.

Key commitments outlined included, Zero tolerance for gender-based violence, with nationwide awareness campaigns, public education, and dedicated budgetary allocations, a permanent ban on harmful cultural practices, transforming a three-year moratorium into enforceable national law, backed by alternative livelihood programs and national dialogues, a National Action Plan for Young Women and Girls, designed to ensure empowerment, protection, and greater participation in national life.

Highlighting Liberia’s seat on the United Nations Security Council (2025–2027), the President pledged to champion the Women, Youth, Peace, and Security agenda, ensuring women and young people play a defining role in shaping peace and development globally.

The Liberian Leader also spotlighted several transformative programs already yielding results: The Liberia Women Empowerment Project, supporting 36,000 women entrepreneurs across six counties, impacting over 260,000 citizens.

The REALISE Project, which has provided direct cash transfers to 16,000 families (primarily women-headed households) and business support to more than 4,450 individuals, 80% of them women. Youth-focused initiatives such as Nurture, Empower, and Protect (NEP) and Accelerating Impact for Young Women, which have already reached nearly 25,000 adolescent girls and young women with health, entrepreneurship, and life skills training, with a target of benefiting over 160,000 by 2031.

Quoting an African proverb, President Boakai reminded the global community as saying “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. Similarly, when women are fully empowered and supported, entire nations thrive.” On behalf of the Liberian people, he renewed Liberia’s resolve to work with Africa and the international community to advance the Beijing+30 agenda for women and girls everywhere.