Unity, urgency, and determination filled the air as over 900 participants gathered at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town for Liberia’s Second National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Conference.
Under the bold theme, “Breaking the Barriers: Promoting Access to SRHR for All in Liberia,” the three-day event brought together a powerful mix of youth leaders, rural women advocates, government officials, and international partners.
Organized by the Amplifying Rights Network (ARN), a coalition of ten local organizations, the conference serves as a growing platform for reshaping the national conversation around reproductive rights and health services.
Reflecting on the progress made since the inaugural conference in 2023, prominent women’s rights advocate Atty. Facia Boyenoh Harris emphasized the need to keep the momentum going.
“This conference isn’t just a gathering, it’s a movement,” Harris stated. “It’s about amplifying the voices of women, girls, youth, and marginalized communities to shape policies that affect their health and future.”
The event has become a vibrant space for storytelling, evidence-sharing, and collaborative action, where participants challenge the status quo and explore inclusive solutions to Liberia’s SRHR challenges.
Government Pledges Continued Support
Delivering special remarks, Hon. Gbemi Horace-Kollie, Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, called the theme “timely and transformative,” and reiterated the government’s commitment to gender equality and reproductive health access.
She reminded participants of President Joseph Boakai’s recent pledge at the UN to eliminate violence against women and girls, adding:
“We all share the responsibility of ensuring that every Liberian, especially women and youth, can access SRHR services without stigma, shame, or discrimination.”
Bridging the Urban-Rural Gap
From the health sector, Dr. Tarmay K. Yekeh-Saa, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, outlined both progress and persistent inequalities in Liberia’s reproductive health landscape.
She highlighted improvements in coordination and system resilience, especially following crises like Ebola and COVID-19, but stressed that rural populations still face limited access.
A poignant reminder came from Ma Nowaai Ida Kaiser, Executive Director of the Rural Women and Girls Rights Foundation in Bong County, who spoke passionately about the lack of services in rural communities:
“SRHR programs are still too focused on cities. Rural women are left out, always the last to hear and the last to benefit,” she said. “We need real change, and that means taking education and services beyond Monrovia.”
Her remarks drew widespread applause and echoed the sentiments of many participants from remote areas, who have long pushed for decentralized and inclusive SRHR policies.
A Unified Push for Policy Reform
With support from organizations like Kvinna till Kvinna, UNFPA, Medica Liberia, ActionAid, and Paramount Young Women Initiatives, the conference tackled urgent priorities.
These included ending harmful traditional practices, improving menstrual health, expanding adolescent-friendly services, increasing gender-responsive budgeting, and investing in health sector workers.
Across panels and workshops, the shared goal was clear: building a Liberia where access to sexual and reproductive health services is not a privilege, but a right for everyone.
A Message of Equality and Hope
As the conference moves into its final day, the energy remains high, driven by a collective belief that real, lasting change is possible.
And the message resounding through every hall and breakout session is simple, but powerful:
True progress in SRHR begins when every Liberian, no matter their gender, status, or where they live, can access the care, dignity, and choices they deserve.
