| Much of Liberia's history, like the rest of Africa, has been a male-dominated society. Over the years, issues concerning Liberian women had not been a priority in the nation's development agenda. But during Liberia's 14-year civil war, the women, who have always been divided into two distinct classes---namely, the Americo-Liberian and the educated elite women on one hand, and the "Native" (indigenous, mostly uneducated, poor and rural) women, on the other hand, were able to unite to advocate for their common goals.; The culminating factors of the women's unification efforts have been largely the result of the gross gender-based-violence (GBV) inflicted upon them indiscriminately during the war. As women were raped, kidnapped, forced into prostitution, coerced into armed rebels, and even killed, among other atrocities, they were able to forge alliances among themselves, regardless of their social status. These alliances were transformed into women's organizations, which have become the foundations for Liberian women's advocacy for justice and equality.; A significant achievement that resulted from the women's advocacy is the establishment of the Ministry of Gender and Development (MGD). The MGD came about as a result of the persistent petitioning of the government by the various women's organizations, which saw the need for the inclusion of women in all sectors of national decision-making capacities that would address the need and concerns of women. With the establishment of the MGD, women in Liberia, for the first time, have a government entity that is specifically designed to cater to the wellbeing of women and children, as well as the nation. |
