The United Nations Women’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr. Maxime Houinato, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting gender equality within the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
During a recent engagement with Liberia’s Ministry of National Defense, Dr. Houinato emphasized the need for full implementation of the Ministry’s gender policy, which promotes the participation of women at all levels of military service-from recruitment to command.
“We are committed to ensuring that women have equal access and opportunity within the military ranks,” Dr. Houinato said. “This includes supporting the Ministry’s efforts to implement its gender policy and expand women’s involvement in field operations, leadership roles, and peacekeeping missions.”
Addressing Recruitment Barriers
Liberia’s Minister of National Defence, Brigadier General (Ret.) Geraldine Janet George, echoed the importance of gender inclusion and outlined key challenges that continue to affect female recruitment into the AFL.
While many women successfully pass the entrance examinations, she explained, physical fitness tests remain a major hurdle.
“To address this, some women within the AFL initiated pre-training awareness programs to better prepare female candidates for the physical demands of military service,” Minister George disclosed. “All women who participated in these awareness sessions successfully completed recruitment and training.”
This initiative, she added, has proven effective and could serve as a model for future recruitment strategies aimed at closing the gender gap in the military.
Structured Promotions for Women
Minister George also highlighted that promotions within the AFL are conducted based on a class-ranking system tied to performance.
This approach ensures transparency and fairness in advancement, with women being promoted alongside their male counterparts based on merit within their respective training classes.
“The system ensures that qualified women rise through the ranks, and the progress made so far reflects our commitment to professionalism and equality,” she noted.
Progress on Gender Policy Implementation
Developed in partnership with UN Women, the AFL’s gender policy serves as a roadmap for integrating gender perspectives into military operations, recruitment, and leadership structures.
Minister George noted that implementation of the policy is progressing well, thanks to ongoing collaboration with development partners and the growing internal advocacy within the armed forces.
UN Women and the Ministry of National Defense have pledged to continue working together to ensure that Liberia’s military not only reflects the nation’s diversity but also champions gender equity as a matter of operational effectiveness and institutional integrity.
Regional and National Significance
Dr. Houinato commended Liberia for its efforts and described the country’s approach as a positive example for other nations in West and Central Africa.
He stressed that gender equality in national defense institutions is not just about fairness but also about building more resilient and effective security forces.
“As we work across the region, Liberia’s progress stands out,” he said. “The commitment shown by the Ministry of Defense here is commendable and should be celebrated.”
