Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has completed pieces of training for 169 women and “First-time voters” in River Gee and Maryland Counties.

The trainings were held on May 22-25, 2023 with a focus on strengthening women’s leadership in peacebuilding and conflict resolution as well as helping first-time voters understands their civic responsibilities during the electoral period.

The activities is said to be a part of the UN Women Promoting Inclusive Participation and Elimination of Violence against Women in Election Project with funding from the Peacebuilding Fund and the United Nations Development Program in Liberia.

“Participants gained knowledge of negotiation, and mediation, and deepen their understanding of the element of peacebuilding.  Participants were trained about the Violence Against Women in Election/Politics Protocol (VAWiE) and the VAWiE Action Plan, the electoral timetable, transformative leadership, and the principles of democracy,” Naymote said in a release issued over the weekend.

The release noted that the trainings were facilitated by Madam Tennen Subah, the Executive Director of the A-Light Women Group in Fish Town, River Gee County, Mr. Richlue Molue, Executive Director of Peace Liberia in Harper City, Maryland County, and Madam Peace Thor Mahteh-Boyee, Naymote’s Program Director. The facilitators engaged participants through lectures, group exercises; mock conflict resolution exercises, presentations, and story-telling sessions, it added.

At the end, the participants pledged to share knowledge on the training in their different groups within their counties and called on political parties to prioritize gender equality in politics, and peacebuilding and increase women’s participation at all levels of peacebuilding and decision-making.

“Conflict as a whole is something that needs to be addressed at any time it arises and so having training on conflict resolution is very much paramount to us. We are glad that Naymote is here to enlighten women about conflict prevention and peacebuilding,” Mr. Edward Wandeh, Town Chief Barriken stressed.

“I am excited to participate in this training session on my civic responsibilities as a Liberian. I had a limited understanding of the entire electoral timetable and the VAWiE Protocol; Now I have the knowledge that I can transfer to my peers who are not here today. Thank you Naymote,” added Lucy B. Sneh, a Participant from River Gee County.

Participants thanked Naymote and the UNWOMEN for the opportunity provided to them to learn and share experiences to advance women’s peaceful participation in democracy and prevent electoral violence and peacebuilding.