WCI was honored to be able to attend and participate in the International Women’s Colloquium in Monrovia from March 7-9, 2009.  The delegation enjoyed the amazing and uplifting speeches by heads of states and representatives calling for increased international attention of women’s issues especially in regards to the safety, security, and equal opportunities of women and girls.

WCI is happy to have witnessed history with the signing of the Monrovia Declaration and proud to have been able to put into action some of the thematic priorities of the Colloquium.

The Monrovia Declaration outlines a commitment to “honor women’s leadership at all levels of community and public life, and through our action and decisions to enable women leaders, in particular young women, to take up roles of leadership and responsibility.”   While in Liberia, WCI put the Monrovia Declaration and its mission to increase the political participation of women into action through the following:

•    WCI held a successful and “standing room only” training on campaign and media messaging strategies.  More than one- hundred women and men attended the training that was held as part of the Women’s Colloquium and specifically on the launch of Liberia’s National Action Plan on women, peace and security through the implementation UN Security Resolution 1325.  As one participant wrote in an email to WCI, “It was like magic,” condensing the most critical campaign skills into a few hours of training.

•    WCI also conducted a training specifically for market women outside of Monrovia in Kakata.  The market women of Liberia are considered by many to be the backbone of the economy throughout the conflict and also an impressively organized constituency, largely responsible for ensuring President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s victory.  WCI trained these women how to conduct of a self- assessment of their strengths and weaknesses as political candidates and how to frame campaign messages.  WCI’s trainers helped to critique participants on their political messages.  More than one-fifth of the participants want to contest leadership positions in the marketers association elections.

•    WCI attended the groundbreaking of the Angie Brooks International Center.  This center will become the premier research facility for women leaders from around the world to engage in training and research to promote and develop women’s leadership.  WCI is proud to fund a young women leader’s mentorship program as part of the Center’s outreach.

•    Through WCI’s local partners in Liberia, WCI has supported some of the other goals of the Monrovia Declaration including supporting the implementation of UN SCR 1325 and sustaining women’s roles in peace processes, empowering women with decent work opportunities and promoting their roles in the formal and informal economies and enhancing the leadership capacities of young people.  WCI will continue to uphold the commitments outlined in the Monrovia Declaration in its new programs in Liberia and around the world.