Outcome LBR_D_6.1

The capacity of the GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders strengthened to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of continental and global normative and policy frameworks

In 2024, strengthened capacities of the Government of Liberia and national stakeholders led to notable progress in assessing and advancing the implementation of global normative policy obligations for gender equality. The Government successfully finalized the Beijing+30 Periodic Progress report, the combined 9th and 10th CEDAW State Party report, and the report on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), reaffirming its commitment to implementing global and regional frameworks for gender equality. Only the Beijing+30 Periodic Progress report was officially submitted, as of the end of 2024. UN Women provided substantive inputs to the drafting process, coordinated inputs from stakeholders - such as from the UN Gender Theme Group - and facilitated the final report validation workshops. The Liberia Country Report on Beijing+30 highlights progress across critical sectors, including social protection, health, education, agriculture, digital technology, labor, commerce, governance, women's participation in decision-making, and peace and security. A multi-sectoral technical working session, involving 50 representatives (30 women and 20 men) from government and civil society, strengthened the Government's capacity to monitor progress against the twelve critical areas of concern under the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA). This session, held in mid-September 2024 by UN Women and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, facilitated the validation of the Liberia Country Report on Beijing+30 in preparation for the 30th Anniversary of the Fifth World Conference on Women and the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The combined 9th and 10th Periodic State Party Reports on CEDAW, also validated through a 2-day consultative session held in July 2024, further underscores Liberia’s dedication to addressing gender discrimination and advancing gender equality in line with its international commitments. The CEDAW State Party Report concluded that the Government of Liberia has continued to improve on measures to eliminate discrimination against women, children, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, with advancements in policies, laws, and programs to promote gender equality and equity. However, much still needs to be done to change attitudes, behaviors, and practices that are deeply rooted in culture and tradition. A national consultant was hired by UN Women to support the government with data collection, drafting and validation of the combined 9th and 10th CEDAW State Party report and Maputo Protocol report. Lastly, in 2024 UN Women facilitated the participation of four representatives (three female, one male) from the Liberian government and civil society at the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). A total of 31 participants (28 female, 3 male) represented Liberia at CSW68, including government and civil society representatives. In collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), UN Women also co-organized a post-CSW68 Working Session to develop a state roadmap to implement its recommendations. The post-CSW68 Stakeholders Meeting set forth a clear and actionable roadmap for advancing gender equality, with a particular focus on addressing the multifaceted challenges that women face, especially in terms of poverty, institutional exclusion, and lack of gender-responsive financing. Please see: https://x.com/unwomenliberia/status/1808911392227086347 (CEDAW 9th & 10th Periodic Country Report validation) https://x.com/unwomenliberia/status/1804206506692481528 (Post-CSW68 stakeholders' consultation) https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=831469439103737&id=100067220648075 (Beijing+30 Progress Report validation)

The capacity of the GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders strengthened to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of continental and global normative and policy frameworks

UN Women Liberia played a central role in advancing national compliance with global gender-equality commitments by supporting the completion of Liberia’s combined 9th and 10th CEDAW State Party Report. This included coordinating inputs across government and civil society, consolidating evidence, and facilitating inclusive stakeholder engagement to strengthen the quality and coherence of the final submission. Following Liberia’s Beijing+30 Report, the Office supported the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to move from reporting to implementation by developing a roadmap to operationalize the country’s two Action Agenda commitments—Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and Investing in Young Women and Girls. The roadmap provides clear, time-bound steps to accelerate progress and strengthen national accountability. UN Women also bolstered UN system-wide normative engagement by coordinating the preparation of the UNCT’s inputs for both CEDAW and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In parallel, the Office facilitated national follow-up on CSW recommendations, supporting government and partners to strengthen coherence and alignment between global commitments and national priorities. In addition, UN Women advanced gender-responsive diplomacy through its partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This included developing knowledge products and policy guidance to inform Liberia’s emerging Gender-Responsive Foreign Policy. The Office also supported national reflection and recommitment during the 25-year commemoration of UNSCR 1325, reinforcing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and promoting coordinated action across government institutions and development partners.

The capacity of the GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders strengthened to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of continental and global normative and policy frameworks

UN Women continued to enhance the capacity of GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders including women led civil society organizations to facilitate the monitoring of progress towards the achievement of the concluding observations of the CEDAW Committee. For instance, a UNW LBR sponsored week long capacity building training for gender units of government ministries and agencies as well as CSOs gender advocates was held resulting to an agreement on the timelines for reporting by both parties

The capacity of the GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders strengthened to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of continental and global normative and policy frameworks

As a result of srengthened capacity to GoL representatives to report on and implement continental and global normative and policy frameworks, the GoL through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection led the development of the 2020-2021 STATE PARTY REPORT On the African Union Continental Result Framework (CRF) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This is the first time the Ministry has led the task of developing this report as the previous report was technically supported by UN Women and a technical consultant.This report, as requested by the Office of the AU Special Envoy on WPS, is Liberia’s second and combined report covering the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 and it catalogues progress that have been made by the government ministries and agencies and civil society organizations that implemented the NAP WPS during the period under review.

The capacity of the GoL, gender equality advocates and other national stakeholders strengthened to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of continental and global normative and policy frameworks

The Government of Liberia has adopted a coordinated approach to reporting under the human rights treaties which envisages the development of the CEDAW report in parallel with the other treaty reports and seeks to highlight the linkages between the treaties including the common provisions aiming at the elimination of discrimination against women in their enjoyment of all human rights. In this regard, UN Women strengthened the Government's existing reporting mechanism as per the treaty signed and is supporting the Government to develop the ninth and tenth CEDAW State Party reports for submission to the CEDAW committee. Furthermore, the capacities of the Human Rights divisions at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Ministry of Justice, and focal points in different Line Ministries were enhanced, particularly in report writing and monitoring of Human Rights conventions with a focus on CEDAW.