The Ministry of National Defense has launched a nationwide campaign to increase the number of women, who would join the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The campaign has setting a long-term target of raising female representation to 30 percent in the army.
The awareness initiative officially began in Bong County, and marks the start of the campaign’s northern regional phase, which will also cover Lofa and Nimba counties before expanding to other counties. The campaign comes as the Ministry disclosed how women currently make up only 7.4 percent of the AFL, a figure official say, reflects the need for greater inclusion within the security sector. As part of the government’s strategy, authorities hope to increase female representation to between 20 and 25 percent by 2030, with an eventual goal of reaching 30 percent. A Defense Ministry official told radio station in Gbarnga that the campaign is intended to educate the public about the important role women play in national defense while challenging misconceptions that military service is exclusively for men.
Officials said, the outreach effort targets high school students, recent graduates, parents, traditional leaders, religious institutions and community organizations.
They believe these groups are essential to encourage more women to pursue careers in the military, and help to remove cultural and social barriers that have discouraged female participation. AFL offers equal career opportunities for qualified women in engineering, medicine, aviation, intelligence, communications, logistics, information technology and leadership.
Officials noted that women have already demonstrated their capabilities through national service and international peacekeeping missions.
The Ministry said, the campaign also supports the country’s commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, as well as the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, both of which promote greater participation of women in peacebuilding and national security institutions.
The Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of National Defense, Anthony M.K. Boakai, described the campaign as a major step to build a more professional, inclusive, and effective Armed Forces.
Boakai said, increasing women’s participation will strengthen the AFL’s capacity to meet modern security challenges while ensuring that the military reflects the diversity of the nation it serves.
Comments are closed.