The Women Non-Governmental Organisation Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has lamented campaign violence in the country ahead of the October 10 general election.
Development Diaries reports that supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Unity Party clashed on 10 August during a campaign tour of President George Weah in Montserrado County.
WONGOSOL’s Executive Director Esther Yango, in a statement, said violence should not be the way forward in the democratic process of Liberia.
Electoral violence causes fear and raises security concerns for citizens, especially women, preventing them from freely participating in electioneering processes and violating their human rights.
This is a major concern especially as women’s representation in public office remains low and so does their participation in elections as candidates.
In 2006, there was 16 percent women representation in the country’s legislature; 13 percent in 2012; 11 percent in 2014 and ten percent in 2021, indicating a downtrend.
Despite political parties signing the Farmington River Declaration, which clearly sets the framework for free, fair, transparent, and non-violent elections and affirms a commitment by all political parties to uphold the rule of law, there are still fears that political violence could cause unrest in the country.
Development Diaries, therefore, calls on the government of Liberia to ensure that the October elections are devoid of all forms of violence.
Political parties must uphold their commitment to the Farmington River Declaration and allow for a free and peaceful political atmosphere.
Photo source: Brittany Danisch
