A leading women’s advocacy group is urging the Liberian government to take the crucial next step of ratifying a landmark African Union treaty aimed at eradicating violence against women across the continent.
This week, the African Women Leaders Network–Liberia Chapter (AWLN-Liberia) commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for signing the African Union Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (CEVAWG).
However, the group emphasized that ratification is essential for turning symbolic commitments into enforceable legal action.
“In anticipation of ratification, the Liberia Chapter reaffirms its readiness to support and contribute to the effective implementation of CEVAWG,” the organization said in a statement, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between intent and tangible progress.
Liberia is among just six AU member states that have signed the convention so far—a noteworthy step given the country’s historical leadership in advancing women’s rights.
Liberia was led by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, from 2006 to 2018, and continues to be an influential voice in regional gender advocacy.
CEVAWG’s origins date back to 2021, when Sirleaf, now the patron of AWLN, urged African heads of state to move beyond rhetoric and take definitive action against gender-based violence.
Her appeal, delivered through then-AU Chair Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, called for accountability and meaningful intervention.
That call prompted an unprecedented response from African leaders, culminating in three presidential summits on “Positive Masculinity”, a unique initiative that aimed to involve men in addressing violence against women.
These summits laid the groundwork for the drafting and eventual adoption of CEVAWG earlier this year.
For women’s rights advocates, the convention represents a potentially transformative moment in a region where gender-based violence remains widespread.
But its impact will hinge on how swiftly and effectively signatory countries, including Liberia, move to ratify and implement its provisions.
Established in December 2019, AWLN-Liberia has become a central figure in the national women’s movement. Operating under a five-year strategic plan, the organization focuses on enhancing political participation, promoting peace and security, and empowering youth.
It has played an active role in advocating for electoral reforms, including legal quotas to increase women’s representation in public office, and has worked to address electoral violence targeting female candidates-a persistent issue across the region.
The push for ratification comes at a pivotal time in Liberia’s post-conflict journey, more than 20 years after the end of its brutal civil wars.
Women were instrumental in bringing peace to the country and remain vital to ongoing nation-building efforts, making CEVAWG particularly relevant to Liberia’s social and political context.
International observers have welcomed Liberia’s decision to sign the convention but caution that the country has struggled in the past to follow through on international commitments.
Persistent issues such as domestic violence and limited economic opportunities for women remain areas where progress has lagged.
AWLN-Liberia’s appeal reflects a broader trend across Africa, where women’s rights organizations are moving beyond symbolic celebrations to demand concrete legal protections and implementation mechanisms.
Ultimately, CEVAWG’s success will not be measured by how many countries sign it, but by how effectively it transforms the lives of women and girls.
For advocates in Liberia and across the continent, ratification is only the beginning of a much longer and deeper fight for gender justice.
