Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has proposed the creation of additional legislative seats exclusively for women as part of efforts to meet Liberia’s long-standing goal of 30 percent female representation in the National Legislature.
Speaking at the induction ceremony of the Women’s Legislative Caucus (WLC) on Tuesday, VP Koung said data from the recent national census could be used to determine the allocation of the new seats. He reaffirmed the Executive Branch’s commitment to achieving the gender quota.
“We’ve made some progress toward achieving 30 percent women’s representation, but we’re not there yet,” Koung stated. “To bridge this gap, we must leverage the census to create seats specifically for women in areas where they stand a strong chance of winning.”
The Vice President, who represented the President at the event, praised the new WLC leadership and cited the historical contributions of women to Liberia’s progress. He said the government would continue to support initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance.
House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, who served as guest speaker, expressed concern over the low number of women in the Legislature. He cited data showing that women make up nearly 50 percent of Liberia’s population but only 10 percent of the Legislature.
“We cannot move forward as a nation while leaving half our people behind,” VP Koon said. He called for stronger legal mechanisms, including the reintroduction of the Gender Parity Bill, which he authored. The bill passed in the House but stalled in the Senate due to legal concerns.
Speaker Koon referenced multiple failed legislative attempts to introduce gender quotas, including in 2004, 2010–2011, 2016–2017, and 2022–2023. The latest effort, a revised Election Law in 2022, was weakened in the Senate amid debate over its enforcement provisions.
Rep. Ellen Attoh Wreh of Margibi County Electoral District 3, who was inducted as Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, pledged to push for a binding Gender Parity Bill and a comprehensive framework for women’s political inclusion.
“Though Liberia has made progress, our numbers in the Legislature remain low,” she said. “As Chair, I will advocate for legislation and policy that reflect women’s priorities.”
Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, who officiated the induction, underscored the importance of sustained support for the Caucus, particularly in securing resources.
UN Women Country Representative Comfort Lamptey commended the Caucus and emphasized the need for women’s priorities to be reflected in national policy. She reaffirmed UN Women’s continued support for promoting women’s leadership in Liberia.
