UN Women Urges Political Parties To Adopt 30 Percent Gender Quota

Monrovia, Liberia: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is calling for Liberia’s proposed 30 percent gender quota to be reflected in electoral reforms and political party structures to increase women’s participation in decision-making.

UN Women Deputy Country Representative in Liberia, Yemi Falayajo, made the call during a United Nations press briefing in Monrovia on October 23, stressing that political parties must take responsibility for creating meaningful opportunities for women to compete for leadership positions.

Falayajo urged the media to support efforts to incorporate the gender quota into political party reforms, emphasizing that women must not only be nominated but also given opportunities to win elections.

“When the quota has been reflected, women should not be sent to counties or places where they will not win,” she said. “Send them to places also where they will win.”

She cautioned against reforms that provide women with symbolic representation without giving them a genuine chance to participate in political leadership.

Falayajo said the responsibility for improving women’s representation should extend beyond government to political parties themselves, which she believes must make changes to their internal structures and practices.

She also emphasized the need to build women’s leadership capacity so they can participate effectively in politics and decision-making.

According to Falayajo, women should have a voice not only in peacebuilding and conflict resolution but also in determining national development priorities and how resources are allocated.

She noted that women have played a significant role in Liberia’s peacebuilding history, recalling how women who witnessed the deaths of family members during the civil conflict became peace activists and later contributed to peacebuilding efforts internationally.

Falayajo said Liberia’s growing international visibility, including its anticipated role on the United Nations Security Council, should also serve as an opportunity to recognize the women who contributed to the country’s peace.

She described women as central to Liberia’s peacebuilding achievements and called for their contributions to be recognized and sustained.

The UN Women representative further called for women’s economic and educational empowerment, noting that technology could help reduce inequality and expand opportunities.

She also stressed the importance of creating supportive environments in homes and communities so girls can attend school, complete their education, and pursue opportunities without unnecessary barriers.

Falayajo urged Liberians to support reforms that enable women to participate meaningfully in leadership and help shape the country’s development agenda.

The proposed 30 percent gender quota was discussed during the briefing as part of broader calls for electoral and political party reforms. The briefing did not establish that the quota had already become law.