The Liberian Legislative Delegation currently on an electoral boundary delimitation study tour in Rwanda has held an exchange meeting with a cross-section of Rwandan Members of Parliament representing various Standing Committees, along with members of the Forum of Rwandan Women Parliamentarians (FFRP).
The high-level engagement focused on sharing experiences in legislative reforms, gender mainstreaming, electoral processes, and parliamentary oversight.
As part of the meeting, Rwandan lawmakers provided valuable insights into the countryโs governance model, particularly the policies and mechanisms that have positioned Rwanda as a global leader in womenโs political participation.
Dr. Gihana Donatha, a member of the Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs, underscored the importance of womenโs inclusiveness in political parties.
She cited her own party, the Social Democrats, where four of the six Central Committee members are women, with the exception of the President and Vice President.
Also contributing was Tumukunde Aimรฉe Marie Ange, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Security who highlighted the need for women to be competitive within political parties.
She emphasized the importance of policies that strengthen womenโs education and leadership, particularly in science and technology, as essential for womenโs political empowerment.
The Rwandan parliamentarians further noted that their success story is rooted in strong political will, consistent gender-responsive legislation, and accountability mechanisms that safeguard womenโs representation.
Speaking during the meeting, the head of the Liberian Delegation, Prof. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, emphasized the significance of the exchange.
He noted that Liberia, as it prepares for threshold setting and electoral boundary delimitation, stands to benefit greatly from Rwandaโs best practices in promoting inclusivity and fairness in representation.
For her part, Moima Briggs-Mensah, Chair of the House Committee on Gender, praised the role of the FFRP in ensuring womenโs effective participation in Rwandaโs Parliament.
She stressed that Liberia is working toward adopting similar frameworks to strengthen womenโs voices in governance and lawmaking.
At the meeting, Both delegations agreed that inter-parliamentary cooperation remains crucial in advancing democracy, gender equality, and good governance across Africa.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to explore future collaborations and exchange programs between the legislatures of Liberia and Rwanda.
The Liberian Delegation is expected to continue engagements with key stakeholders, including:
An exchange session with the Gender Monitoring Office on mechanisms for increasing womenโs political participation,
A meeting with the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations and
An exchange meeting with the National Electoral Commission on electoral reforms, threshold setting, and boundary delimitation.
Other key areas of focus as part of the trip will include a session with the National Womenโs Council on womenโs engagement in political participation, An exchange meeting with the National Youth Council on young peopleโs participation in politics and
A working session with the Rwanda Governance Board among others.
