The President of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia, Lisa Diasay, has challenged members of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia to continue to be the torchbearer for justice.
Speaking on the team theme: “Rising Together to Strengthen the Rule of Law for Justice” Madam Diasay encouraged AFELL’s members at its 23rd National Convention to continue to be the shield for the voiceless.
Quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, the FEJAL Head stated that justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both; as such, “Let that guides your every case, your every fight,”she noted.
She, at the time, called for a strengthened collaboration in order to raise awareness, educate communities, and empower women and girls with the knowledge of their rights and the courage to claim them.
Diasay also assured AFELL that FeJAL, a media development and advocacy professional body, stands ready to partner with AFELL for the realization of continuous awareness.
“Together, we rise, not for ourselves alone, but for every woman waiting to be heard, protected, and served by justice,” she reechoed.
The FEJAL head also commented that fearless women are united by a shared commitment to strengthen the rule of law and amplify justice for all especially for women and girls whose voices are often silenced.
“Let me congratulate AFELL on the holding of its convention, which signifies a torch of inclusivity, leadership and respect for dignity, rights and the law,” she added.
Madam Diasay told the body that through their reportage on various media outlets, they uncovered that many women and girls face injustice not because laws don’t exist but because the systems meant to protect them often fail them.
She highlighted some of the issues ranging from survivors of abuse and exploitation who are left without recourse, to single mothers pleading for persistent child support, to women suffering silently in homes filled with violence, reemphasizing that the laws must not just exist on paper but must be enforced, and they must serve everyone.
“As female journalists, , we see these stories, we amplify them through our different media outlets and or channels, we hear the cries, and we feel the urgency,” the FEJAL head noted.
Madam Diasay used the occasion to rally others to rise together especially lawyers, journalists, advocates, and community leaders to demand not just awareness, but action.
She, at the same time, admonished the efforts of AFELL in challenging these patriarchal and systematic oppressions and leading people captured under beneficiaries of the different interventions carried out during the period.
At the same time, Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene GyapayYouh did not mince her words at the 23rd Annual Convention of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), as she sharply criticized individuals who comment on legal issues without a proper understanding of the law.
Addressing an audience of legal professionals, the Chief Justice remarked, “They pretend to know the law, and their first utterance is that, ‘I am not a lawyer ohh, but—’ If you are not a lawyer, shut up.” The bold statement drew applause and quickly gained traction across legal and public forums.
Chief Justice Youh’s comments come amidst rising public engagement in legal and constitutional debates—particularly following recent controversial court rulings. She stressed that while free speech is a democratic right, misinformed legal commentary often distorts facts and threatens respect for the rule of law.
“There is so much to do, and that can be done without money,” she continued, urging Liberians—especially women in the legal profession—to take initiative and contribute to national development through service and integrity rather than simply through financial means.
Her remarks served as both a critique and a motivational charge, highlighting the critical need for legal literacy, civic education, and professional accountability.
The AFELL 23rd convention brought together female lawyers and advocates from across Liberia to discuss legal empowerment, gender justice, and the future of Liberia’s legal system. Chief Justice Youh’s address was a defining moment of the event, calling for a more responsible and informed national dialogue around legal affairs.