President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. of Liberia addressed the Fourth World Conference on Women in New York, held as part of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly. The conference focused on “Recommitting to Resourcing and Accelerating the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” marking thirty years since the original framework for advancing women’s rights was established.
In his address, President Boakai stated, “Liberia sees this anniversary not as a ceremonial occasion but as an urgent call to action. Under my leadership, Liberia is determined to move from pledges to results.”
President Boakai announced that Liberia’s Agenda for Inclusive Development will allocate $8.38 billion over five years toward gender equality, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and social development as national priorities.
He outlined several key commitments:
– Implementing zero tolerance for gender-based violence through awareness campaigns, public education efforts, and dedicated funding.
– Transforming a temporary three-year moratorium on harmful cultural practices into permanent law with supporting alternative livelihood programs and national dialogues.
– Launching a National Action Plan for Young Women and Girls aimed at empowerment, protection, and increased participation in national life.
President Boakai also highlighted Liberia’s upcoming role on the United Nations Security Council (2025–2027), pledging to advance the Women, Youth, Peace, and Security agenda so that women and young people can have a significant impact on global peace and development.
He pointed to ongoing initiatives in Liberia such as:
– The Liberia Women Empowerment Project which supports 36,000 women entrepreneurs across six counties and impacts more than 260,000 citizens.
– The REALISE Project providing cash transfers to 16,000 families—primarily headed by women—and business support for over 4,450 individuals (80% women).
– Youth-oriented programs like Nurture, Empower, and Protect (NEP) and Accelerating Impact for Young Women have reached nearly 25,000 adolescent girls with training in health care, entrepreneurship, and life skills. These initiatives aim to reach more than 160,000 young women by 2031.
During his speech President Boakai said: “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. Similarly, when women are fully empowered and supported, entire nations thrive.”
He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working with African partners and the international community in furthering the Beijing+30 agenda for women’s rights globally.