Liberia pushing for women's representation in House of Representatives

Liberia pushing for women's representation in House of Representatives

On Thursday 29^th September, the House of Representatives of Liberia will debate the passage of the Equal Representation and Participation Bill of 2016. Already passed by the Liberian Senate, the Act gives women, youth and persons with disabilities Legislative preferences by seeking to create twenty-one Special Legislative Constituencies within the Republic of Liberia for which additional twenty-one members of the House of Representatives shall be elected, beginning with the 2017 Presidential and General Elections. According to the Act, fifteen of the Special Legislative seats are exclusively allotted to women, with one constituency in each of Liberia's fifteen counties, while the three constituencies allotted to youths, will include one female representative. Three constituencies are also exclusively allotted to Liberians with disabilities.

Working with stakeholders including the Government of Liberia, civil society, and the media to advance women's political leadership and participation in Liberia, UN Women has been the lead supporter of the Equal Representation and Participation Bill of 2016 by providing the necessary strategic and technical assistance in the development of the bill, facilitation of consultations, ensuring that it is legally and politically sound and that it is relevant to the global context.

Source: UN Women