By Jamesetta D. Williams
Liberia Marks International Women’s Day 2025 with a Call to ActionMonrovia, Liberia
– The morning sun cast a golden glow over Monrovia as hundreds gathered at the Ministerial Complex to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025. With banners waving in the wind, boldly declaring “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”, the event became a powerful call to action for gender equality in Liberia.Among the crowd was Martha, a 19-year-old college student who had grown up in a village where girls were often told they belonged in the kitchen, not classrooms. Today, she stood among strong and determined women advocating for change.
At the front of the stage, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children & Social Protection, took the microphone, her voice steady and passionate.”This year marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration—a promise to women and girls worldwide. But here in Liberia, the fight is not over. Every day, our sisters, daughters, and mothers face violence and discrimination. This must end. We must act, and we must act now!” she declared, as the crowd erupted in applause.Among the attendees was Mama Yatta, a 52-year-old market woman and survivor of domestic violence, standing as a voice for those still suffering in silence.The keynote address came from Cllr. Tonieh Talery Wiles, a veteran advocate who had attended the 1995 Beijing Conference. She reminded Liberians that while progress had been made, true equality remained elusive.”Back then, we dreamed of a world where women were safe, where girls could go to school without fear, where no woman was left behind. But dreams are not enough. We must make them real.”Martha listened intently, thinking of her younger sister, Bendu, once denied an education due to financial constraints, and her best friend, Sarah, forced into marriage at just 16. This was more than just a commemoration—it was a demand for action.Throughout the event, government officials, civil society leaders, and international partners pledged to fight gender-based violence, enforce laws, and create more opportunities for women.
However, Martha realized that true change would not come from promises alone but from collective action.As the program ended, she stepped forward, her voice trembling but strong:”We are the future.
We won’t wait for change. We will create it!”A new dawn had come for women in Liberia. The road ahead would be challenging, but one thing was certain—they would walk it together, for ALL women and girls.
