Gender Minister, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, has made a passionate appeal for continued international support to Liberia’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
The Gender Minister delivered the remarks on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 while addressing the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in New York.
In her remarks, Minister Horace-Kollie outlined Liberia’s achievements in mainstreaming gender into peace and security efforts, including the localization of the WPS framework and increased gender-responsive budgeting in security institutions.
“Since the adoption of the second National Action Plan in 2019, female representation in the Armed Forces of Liberia has grown from 3% to 7.5% as of the most recent recruitment in 2024,” she highlighted.
“This increase is largely attributed to targeted affirmative action measures, such as a pre-recruitment training program exclusively for female applicants, designed to promote equity and level the playing field with their male counterparts.”
Minister Horace-Kollie also expressed appreciation for the Commission’s enduring commitment to Liberia and acknowledged the pivotal role of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF) in advancing the country’s WPS priorities.
“Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Chair for the opportunity to brief the Commission on Liberia’s progress and challenges in implementing its Women, Peace and Security agenda,” she said.
She also hailed the historic appointment of Liberia’s first female Minister of National Defense as a major milestone in advancing women’s leadership within the security sector.
Despite these gains, the Minister was candid about the challenges facing Liberia’s WPS agenda.
She emphasized that domestic financing continues to be insufficient, especially in the context of ongoing global economic uncertainties.
“Furthermore, we are witnessing a global pushback against women’s rights, coupled with shrinking funding for gender equality programs, making it increasingly difficult to prioritize the WPS agenda,” she stated.
Highlighting Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026–2027, the Minister framed the candidacy as a chance to lead by example on gender and peacebuilding at the global level.
“Liberia’s candidacy presents a unique opportunity to align our domestic WPS commitments with global leadership. It positions Liberia to amplify its voice and share its experiences on women’s participation in peace and security at the highest diplomatic level,” she said.
She went on to thank Liberia’s international partners, including UN Women and the Government of Sweden, and reaffirmed the value of continued collaboration with the UN Peacebuilding Fund, which she credited with strengthening inclusive peacebuilding initiatives across the country.
“As we move forward, I assure you that the Government of Liberia is committed to taking the next steps with a coordinated, sustained approach that upholds our global commitments to peace, security, and gender equality,” she concluded.
To maintain momentum, Minister Horace-Kollie announced that Liberia will extend its current National Action Plan on WPS through the end of 2025.
“This extension will help ensure that women’s voices and leadership are fully included in our national transitional justice efforts, including their engagement with the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the ongoing review of our National Security Strategy,” she said.
The gathering brought together global peacebuilding leaders, UN officials, and representatives from donor countries to discuss the future of the PBF and reaffirm commitments to gender-inclusive peacebuilding in fragile and post-conflict states.
Minister Horace-Kollie is part of Liberia’s delegation currently in New York vying for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
