The 11th Edition of Feminist Lecture Series “HERSTORY”
The Feminist Lecture Series "HerStory" is a Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa event that creates an intellectual environment for women and men to discuss issues affecting society's peace and security. It creates a platform that tells stories of how politics and injustice disrupt women's tranquility from their experiences throughout the series. Many issues threaten women's peace and security in various communities and nations.
However, the rationale is to break the silence and psychological barriers such as lack of confidence, fear of rejection, and open misogyny in a male-dominated environment that suppresses women instead of showcasing their gifts and talent.
The forum aims to stimulate women's intellectual growth and capacity to be socially and politically active in society. It also enhances women's leadership capacity to advocate for all forms of violence against women and create an environment where women, men, and youth can dialogue on policies and support issues of gender concerns. The 11th edition of the Feminist Lecture Series - "HerStory" features current and former women Representatives and Senators aspirants discussing the dynamics of women and politics.
Madam Leymah Roberta Gbowee - On July 8, Madam Gbowee moderated the 11th edition of the Feminist Lecture Series “HerStory” alongside five(5) women panelist. Some of these panelists were political aspirants, current senators and representatives. They had an intellectual forum about the dynamics of women and politics.
Feminist Lecture Series Panelists
The 11th edition of the FLS-HerStory panelists include: Honorable Senator Botoe Kanneh of Gbarpolu County on the left end, Honorable Representative Maimo Briggs-Mensah of District #6, Bong County on the mid-left, Senatorial Aspirant Dabah Varpilah on the mid-right and representative aspirant Kula Fofana of Grand Cape Mount County on the right end.
Hon. Senator Botoe Kanneh of Gbarpolu County, Liberia
She won the 2020 senatorial election against Senator Armah Z. Jallah of Gbarpolu County. At the Feminist Lecture Series, Several questions were asked about how she stood to conquer her predecessor Senator Armah Z. Jallah. Hon. Kanneh was a marketer who sold dry meat for a living. Her humanitarian and cordial relationship to identify the needs of people gave her a seat in the Senate.
Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, Rep #6, Bong Co. Liberia
Representative Mensah is a vocal Female Liberian politician who ascended as a Representative of District #6, Bong County 2013, and has contributed many humanitarian services to less fortunate people in Bong County, specifically Salala district. She has, for the past two years, won several accolades in political leadership, including the Golden Image Award – Rural Development 2019, National Event Planners Awards- Best Female Lawmaker of the Year 2019, Corruption Watch- tough-talking Female Lawmaker of the Year 2019.
Mrs. Dabah Varpilah, Former/Aspirant Senatorial Candidate, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia
Mrs. Varpilah participated in the 2018 election as a Grand Cape Mount County Senator. She is currently an exciting candidate for the Senatorial post at Grand Cape Mount County. She said that if she wants to be recognized for her services, she would prefer “Honesty” as a recognition.
Ms. Kula Fofana, Former Senatorial and Current Representative Candidate, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia
She is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at David A. Straz Technical and Vocational College of the University of Liberia and a student of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. She served as the former assistant Minister of Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth & Sport, Co-Chaired Liberia’s Vision 2030, and headed the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) Adolescent Girls Division. She contested for the 2019/2020 Senatorial by-Election and lost to Hon. Victor Varney Waston
Several guests were in attendance, including the UN Women country representative -Madam Comfort Lamptey, Ambassador Kate O'Donnell - Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Ireland, Madam Olubanke King Akerele -former Foreign Minister during the former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's administration. Also in attendance was Madam Elizabeth Lwanga King, the Ugandan and UN diplomat who played an essential role in bringing peace to Sierra Leone, and Madam Frances Johnson-Morris, a chairperson of the Liberian National Election Commission (NEC) in 2005.
Comfort Lamptey - UN Women Country Rep.
Comfort Lamptey served as Senior Gender Adviser to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and principal adviser on gender issues to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Before joining UNMIL, she served as a Gender Advisor to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in 2004. She has also worked at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a Regional Adviser to West Africa and Senior Gender adviser at the Headquarters in Geneva.
Maureen Sieh - Journalist
She was the first Liberian journalist to travel to the battlefront and neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea, where thousands of Liberians had sought refuge.
LIVESTREAM VIDEO FOR THE 11TH EDITION OF THE FEMINIST LECTURE SERIES “HERSTORY”.
Priscilla Abram Cooper - She is a representative aspirant for district #5, Montserrado County, and contesting for the seat of Hon. Thomas Fallah.
Elizabeth Lwanga King - UN Diplomat
She is a Ugandan and UN diplomat that played a vital role in bringing peace to Sierra Leone. The UN Diplomat, Madam Elizabeth Lwanga King, provided her diplomatic skills to get the belligerents to the negotiating table, culminating in the Abidjan Peace Accord in 1996.
Madam Frances Johnson- Morris
Madam Frances Johnson-Morris was the chairperson of the Liberian National Election Commission (NEC) in 2005, supervising the election that produced the first democratically elected female President of Liberia and Africa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was also the chairwoman of the Liberian anti-Anti-Corruption Commission and a professional Lawyer.
