Frances Greaves and Julia D Paegar
Frances sat beside me during a panel of Young Peace Women Activists, that included Gharsanay Ibnul Ameen, the youngest recipient of the 2019 Woman of Distinction Award. The panel also included two young Canadian women - Kasha and Katrina. Well done!
Frances helped ground me on the second day of the Commission. As we waited for the panel to begin, we spoke about Liberia and the women there. Rural women are often the most disadvantaged and make up 1/4 of the world's population. Rural women grow our food. I have a friend who has been a farmer all her life, Reni. She has a herd of Holsteins and although she is in Ontario and not in Liberia, I have not known a woman who works as hard as she does. Her hands are leather and her back is strong.
I digress.
I looked up Liberia when I returned to Halifax. I should know about the women in Liberia. We all should. The women's movement there was so successful their mass action for peace ended a 14 year civil war and lead to the election of Africa's first woman head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. This mass action was led by Leymah Gbowee and the tactics the women used included : a sex strike to pressure their men to partake in peace talks, and a sit-in on peace negotiations by women who threaten to disrobe as a means to shame and prevent male delegates from leaving without some resolution.
This is not the whole story of Liberian politics but it is a part of the story of Liberian women.
Frances told me about her work. She works with young people, particularly with young women to transform their lives through her organization Voice of the Voiceless Ministries, NCSCL ( National Civil Society Council of Liberia). I am reminded that Liberia was founded in 1821 as a place for free African Americans to migrate to. More than 10,000 made the journey across the Atlantic. I just want to highlight the women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. Thousands of Muslim and Christian women from various classes mobilized their efforts, staged silent nonviolence protests that included a sex strike and the threat of a curse, in order to end the civil war.
"You cannot tell a girl to take a step and then not allow her to walk - she will want to run."
"If you listen to all the voices in the market, you will not buy anything."
Both of these quotes, shared by Frances, ring true for a week here at the UN.
Frances also spoke of the importance of women becoming involved in the security sector. There are over 120 rape cases a month in Liberia, and her work as facilitator, working with traditional chiefs around developing respect for women is crucial.
She left me with this thought. "Just one small strike of the match will light the flame."
Thank you, Frances Greaves.
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| Panel : Young Women's Leadership for Inclusive Social Protection Systems. |
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