Monrovia, Liberia – Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine, lawyer, politician, and thought leader, has represented Liberia at the 2025 Global Progress Action (GPA) Summit in London a high-level gathering that brought together progressive leaders, policymakers, and activists from nearly 40 countries.
The two-day summit, organized in partnership with the Center for American Progress (CAP) and Labour Together (UK), explored how governments can rebuild broken social contracts and restore public trust. Attendees included the sitting Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Iceland, as well as former leaders from New Zealand and Sweden.
Cllr. Brumskine featured as a panelist in a session titled “Renewing the Social Contract: Shaping a National Identity Built on Trust,” alongside Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party; Raphaël Glucksmann, Member of the European Parliament (France); and Pedro Abramovay, Vice President of the Open Society Foundations (Brazil). The discussion was moderated by Patrick Gaspard, former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa.
In her remarks, Cllr. Brumskine emphasized three guiding principles dignity, delivery, and determination which she described as essential to bridging the “distrust divide” between leaders and citizens.
“Liberians do not connect with abstract labels like left or right, or global north and south. What matters to our people is simple: clean drinking water, jobs for our young people, and electricity that stays on,” she told the gathering.
Brumskine further stressed the absence of African voices in global conversations of this nature, underscoring that progressivism and democracy cannot be fully debated without the perspectives of nations most affected by governance challenges. She connected global discussions on democracy to Liberia’s realities, highlighting the urgent need for practical solutions such as job creation, reliable electricity, and access to essential services.
“When leaders deliver dignity, when they deliver services, and when they govern with determination, they don’t just win votes — they win trust. And with trust comes the patriotism that holds a nation together,” she declared.
Her participation marked Liberia’s contribution to a global dialogue on governance, accountability, and progressive leadership during uncertain times. Speaking afterwards, she described the experience as “one of the most consequential” moments of her leadership journey, noting she was honored to serve as the lone African voice on her panel.
Cllr. Brumskine’s presence at the GPA Summit not only highlighted Liberia’s role on the global stage but also reaffirmed the growing importance of African leadership in shaping solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
