Says Financing Must Match Ambition
(#New#York–#USA), Liberia Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has issued a resounding call for increased international financing to support the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, warning that progress risks stalling without sustainable resources.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s Ministerial High-level Session on Women, Peace, and Security, Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie stressed that while Liberia has made meaningful strides in promoting gender equality and post-conflict recovery, underfunding remains the most urgent obstacle to deeper impact.
The high-level gathering was hosted by Japan and Norway, 2025 Co-chairs of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, in partnership with UN Women. It was organized under the theme: “Deepening WPS Commitments for Action: Innovating and Adapting to Deliver on Peace and Security.
“Our collective credibility rests on translating commitments into tangible results for women and girls,” the Minister told global delegates. “Resourcing and accelerating action for Women, Peace, and Security is not optional.”
In her deliberation, the Gender Minister emphasized that Liberia was the first post-conflict country to adopt a National Action Plan on WPS in 2009 and renewed this commitment in 2019.
“The second plan, which has been extended through 2025, will be succeeded by a third-generation NAP (2026–2031) that is currently in development, while this next phase will be guided by lessons learned and involve broader consultations with grassroots women’s groups, security actors, and international partners.”
Gender Minister Horace-Kollie told global delegates that Liberia remains committed to strengthening women’s role in peacebuilding, security, and governance, but iterated that sustained funding is critical to making this commitment real.”
She further narrated how Liberia has institutionalized gender-responsive budgeting and planning at the national level.
Mrs. Horace-Kollie said: “From legal reforms to leadership representation, the country has embedded WPS across key sectors:
Women now make up 60% of the Supreme Court bench and 33.3% of county superintendent positions.
A Gender and Security Sector Taskforce coordinates gender inclusion across the military, police, and immigration services.
Legal reforms and affirmative action policies are targeting systemic barriers to women’s political participation.”
The Minister also highlighted Liberia’s flagship social protection program, the REALISE Project, which she indicated has reached over 53,000 vulnerable households, most of them female-headed. The Social Cash Transfer component alone is supporting 16,000 women-led households across four counties.
“These investments reduce food insecurity, enhance resilience, and empower women economically-crucial building blocks for peace,” she said.
Despite such progress, the Minister warned that the lack of sustainable financing continues to hinder coordination, weaken implementation, and limit the reach of lifesaving interventions like GBV services and women-led peacebuilding.
She urged development partners and donors to move beyond symbolic support and commit real resources to the WPS agenda.
“Liberia stands ready to play its part, but we cannot do it alone,” she emphasized.
“Together, we must ensure that financing matches ambition and that no woman or girl is left behind.”
As the WPS agenda marks 25 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Liberia’s message was clear: progress is possible, but only if global promises are backed by resources, political will, and sustained collaboration.
