Women Forging Peace: Liberia 2013

Dates: 19-26 January 2013
Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Description

During 2002-3 The Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, lead by Leymah Gbowee, mobilized to force Liberia’s warlord President Charles Taylor into exile. Tired of the violence and brutality during years of civil war, they paved the way for the election of Africa’s first female head of state Nobel Peace Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

In 2013 the Delegation went to Liberia to meet the grassroots activists who were instrumental in bringing an end to war, and who continue to work to reconcile the past and build a sustainable peaceful future. They also met with non-governmental women’s groups, the Women Legislature Caucus, high-level government officials, youth leadership and women peacebuilders.

Purpose

To spotlight the work and amplify the messages of women activists and by sharing learnings with decision-makers in Liberia and at the African Union.

To support real change grounded in experiences and perspectives of women.

Laureates

Leymah Gbowee
Shirin Ebadi
Jody Williams
Mairead Maguire

Partners

Gbowee Peace Foundation of Africa

Delegates

Ana Pincus, Documentary Filmmaker, USA
Ann Patterson, Trustee, Peace People, Northern Ireland
Lauren Embrey, CEO/President, Embrey Family Foundation
Lisa VeneKlasen, Executive Director, JASS (Just Associates), USA
Lynne Twist, President, Soul of Money Institute, USA
Margot Pritzker, Chair, Zohar, Education Project and President and Founder of WomenOnCall.org USA
Nancy Word, Co-Founder Impact Austin, USA
Sara Vetter, Soul of Money Institute, USA
Sarah Cavanaugh, Jini Dellaccio Collection, USA
Seema Mathur, Freelance Journalist, USA
Thomas Taylor, Freelance Cameraperson, USA
Trea Yip, CEO, TY Commercial Group and Philanthropist, USA
Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr, Program Manager, Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa
Zaynab Elsawi, Coordinator, Sudanese Women Empowerment for Peace (SuWEP) Sudan