Story
23 September 2026
Liberia Launches Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in a High-Level Side Event at the 81st UNGA
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection hosted a High-Level Side Event on Women, Peace and Security under the theme “From Pioneers to Global Leaders: Liberia’s Journey in Women, Peace and Security” on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With support from United Nations in Liberia, through UN Women, members of the National Peace Hut Women and the Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) gathered at the National Peace Hut at Fish Market in Monrovia and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection office to witness the livestream of the event. The event marked a significant milestone in Liberia’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding and promoting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.Delivering the keynote remarks, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, paid tribute to the pivotal role Liberian women played in securing peace and rebuilding the nation. He emphasized that women’s leadership was not merely supportive but central to ending the conflict and laying the foundation for lasting peace in Liberia. “The world sometimes speaks of including women in peace as an act of generosity. Liberia knows better. Women were not merely involved in our peace processes. Liberian women helped build peace,” President Boakai stated.He recalled the contributions of WIPNET, the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, market women, and Muslim and Christian women who united across religious, ethnic, and political divides to advocate for peace.President Boakai highlighted Liberia’s pioneering role as the first post-conflict country in the world to adopt a National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2009. Building on this legacy, he announced the launch of Liberia’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP III 2026–2031), reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening women’s leadership, participation, and protection in peacebuilding and governance processes. The event also featured remarks from H.E. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.Solidarity remarks were delivered by international representatives and government officials, including H.E. Charlotte Kugelberg, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN; H.E. Isabelle Rome, France’s Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights; H.E. Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria; H.E. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria; and H.E. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone.A substantive session celebrated the legacy of Liberia’s women peacebuilding pioneers, featuring Madam Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate; Madam Cerue Liyean McGill of the Peace Hut; Madam Ophelia Eliza Hoff of the Mano River Women Peace Network (MARWOPNET); and Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Gibson of the Angie Brooks International Centre.Their contributions reflected the enduring role of women-led movements and community-based institutions in conflict prevention, reconciliation, social cohesion, and peacebuilding.Financing and Sustaining Women, Peace and Security A high-level panel discussion examined strategies for financing and sustaining the WPS agenda, bringing together the following representatives; the Madam Tonni Ann Brodber Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, H.E. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Richard Howard, Director and Deputy Head, ad interim, of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support, the Amb. Liberata Mulamula, African Union Envoy on WPS, and ASG Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women, Deputy Executive Director. The discussion addressed the importance of sustainable financing, institutional accountability, partnerships, and continued investment in women’s leadership and locally led peacebuilding initiatives.Liberia’s NAP III (2026–2031) builds on lessons from previous action plans and seeks to deepen localization, strengthen accountability, expand women’s meaningful participation and leadership, increase youth engagement, and secure sustainable financing for implementation.The event concluded with closing remarks from H.E. Lewis Garseedah Brown II, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.By bringing global leaders and grassroots peacebuilders together, the event reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to ensuring that women’s experiences, leadership, and priorities remain central to national, regional, and international peace and security efforts.
