The Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., says the development and empowerment of women remain one (1) of the priority areas for the Government of Liberia.
Ambassador Kemayah said the Government, under the Leadership of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, was aware that women have been marginalized for a very long time, and is seeking to change the situation by making women's issues central in the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
In addition to including women's issues at the core of the Pro-Poor Agenda, Ambassador Kemayah said President Weah continues to demonstrate an unflinching practical commitment through his presence at women's related activities and events, and official pronouncements promoting women's empowerment; and actions.
Said Ambassador Kemayah: "His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah holds women issues--(empowerment, growth, and development), core to his heart and his agenda. It's no rhetoric; it is a reality that this Government continues to demonstrate in terms of its sincerity on the need to support women. This Leader of ours, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, has demonstrated his unflinching practical commitment not only by being present at women related activities, but also through his utterances and pronouncements."
Ambassador Kemayah further asserted that His Excellency President Weah was showing an exemplary leadership, and it was time for all team members; especially men, to join in and support the women's agenda. "We have a responsibility to emulate his leadership as it relates to the important issues of women empowerment. We know that women have been marginalized for a very long time and they remain marginalized. In order for the empowerment of women to succeed, even as it relates to United Nations Security Council Resolution1325--Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, we, men, have a pivotal role to play. Without our support, women will not be able to achieve such a goal".
The Liberian Diplomat was speaking at a farewell reception he, Ambassador Kemayah and his wife--Rev. Mrs. Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah tendered for the Liberian delegation that attended the just ended Sixty-third (63rd) Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63), at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations in New York.
Ambassador Kemayah praised the leadership of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Williametta Saydee Tarr and the delegation's remarkable participation in the Sixty-third (63rd) CSW; and bid them farewell; stressing that he looks forward to their participation the Sixty-fourth (64th) Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64) in March, 2020.
Responding, Minister Tarr thanked Ambassador Kemayah for the very warm reception she and her team received since their arrival in New York to attend the CSW63; stressing that it was unprecedented. She expressed gratitude to all staff of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations for their support in making Liberia's participation in the CSW successful.
Also speaking, Representative Acarous Gray of Montserrado, who formed a part of the Government's delegation thanked Ambassador Kemayah for being a great host; and asserted that His Excellency President George Manneh Weah did not make any mistake appointing Amb. Kemayah as Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations.
Representative Gray used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment as a legislator to promote women's issues at the House of Representatives. " We recognize that women issues are human rights issues, and human rights issues are global issues; hence, we will not relent to push women's issues at the Legislature. " Hon. Gray emphasized.
Liberia's delegation to the Sixty-third (63rd) Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63) was drawn from a broad spectrum of the women, girls, and He-for-Shes; including Legislators and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
The Sixty-third (63rd) Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63) convened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 11-22, 2019, on the Theme: Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
