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Representatives of Liberia’s House of Representatives, the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Law Reform Commission, the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia, and United Nations partners have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the country’s democratic institutions through inclusive and nationally led electoral reform. This commitment was renewed during a two-day dialogue held on 22 September 2026, which focused on enhancing electoral integrity and expanding opportunities for women’s participation and leadership in politics. The dialogue, convened by the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration with support from the Liberia Electoral Support Project, provided a platform for lawmakers, electoral authorities and development partners to examine reforms that can make Liberia’s electoral framework more representative, inclusive and responsive ahead of the 2029 general elections and beyond. The initiative was supported through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), with funding from the European Union, Irish Aid and Sweden. Participants emphasized that electoral reform presents an important opportunity to strengthen democracy, build public trust in institutions and ensure that all Liberians have meaningful opportunities to participate in governance and decision-making.  Providing technical expertise during the discussions, Maarten Halff, Senior Electoral Affairs Officer of the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), shared comparative international experiences on electoral law, electoral systems and measures to strengthen women’s political representation.  Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Professor Thomas Romeo Quioh, emphasized that the Committee views electoral reform as more than a legislative exercise. He noted that the process is an opportunity to strengthen Liberia’s democratic architecture and ensure that national institutions reflect the aspirations of all Liberians, including women seeking greater participation in leadership and decision-making. He reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to advancing an electoral framework that is credible, inclusive, transparent and responsive to the aspirations of the Liberian people. Representing the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Representative Priscilla Cooper, Vice Chairperson for National Affairs, called for broadening discussions on women’s participation beyond voting and candidacy. She highlighted the importance of ensuring that women have opportunities to serve as legislators, policymakers, ministers, committee leaders and decision-makers who contribute to national development. For his part, Commissioner Boakai Dukuly, Acting Chairperson of the NEC, reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to implement reforms adopted through the legislative process. He encouraged lawmakers to advance reforms that address longstanding electoral challenges and contribute to a stronger democratic future for Liberia. Monjurul Kabir, UN Women Liberia Representative, underscored the importance of ensuring that women’s political participation goes beyond numerical representation. He emphasized the need for women to have meaningful opportunities to influence decision-making and public policy, while encouraging stakeholders to identify solutions that promote equality, inclusion and democratic governance within Liberia’s constitutional framework. Speaking on behalf of UNDP Liberia, Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative, stressed that decisions regarding Liberia’s electoral framework belong to Liberians. He noted that international partners remain committed to supporting nationally led reform efforts through technical expertise, comparative experiences and capacity-building support. He described the commitment demonstrated by Liberian institutions and stakeholders as an important step toward strengthening inclusive, credible and resilient democratic institutions. Throughout the two-day dialogue, participants agreed that electoral reform must remain a nationally owned process, informed by broad consultation, technical expertise and public engagement. Discussions also identified priorities for continued engagement as Liberia advances its electoral reform agenda. Participants expressed a shared aspiration to increase women’s representation in the Legislature and to address barriers that continue to limit women’s political leadership. The dialogue highlighted the strong commitment of Liberian institutions and stakeholders to shaping the country’s democratic future and reaffirmed the support of the United Nations and its development partners in advancing democratic participation, inclusion and representative governance for all Liberians.