Security Institutions benefit from Gender Training

September 13, 2018

UNDP has donated computers, furniture and other assets for use by gender units established at all sector institutions.

Ten (10) security institutions have benefitted from a four-day training in project writing and monitoring and gender mainstreaming.

The exercise is in continuation of efforts designed to improve and strengthen the skills of security sector personnel in becoming gender responsive in their daily portfolios.

Organized by Medica Liberia with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the training was convened under the theme “Project Life Cycle Management”.

Speaking at the opening session on behalf of Medica Liberia, Atty.Yah V.Parwon, stressed the need to operationalize all gender units within security sector institutions in Liberia.

Atty.Parwon urged participants to utilize the training which will ensure gender balance in Liberia’s security sector.

At the same time, the Gender Advisor at the Ministry of Justice and Coordinator for Gender of the Security Sector Taskforce, Maude .Somah, applauded participants for their cooperation and extended thanks to Medica Liberia, UN-women and UNDP for their tireless support in strengthening the Liberian security sector, especially the project that mainstreams gender in the security sector.

Ms. Somah also called on participants to use the knowledge to mentor others, challenging them to work hard to add value to their professional ethics- which eventually paves the way to effectuate gender equity within the security sector.

She disclosed that UNDP has donated computers, furniture and other assets for use by gender units established at all security sector institutions.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Col. Siatta M. Lassanah of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), expressed appreciation for the training which, according to her, they have anticipated to happen for some time now.

Col. Lassanah spoke of the disparity and the stereotypes that exist between women and men and the need to encourage more women to rise up to the occasion.

“In the past, women were not regularly seen to be on par with men-but with this new dispensation, women are gradually finding their way, with gender being institutionalized across the Liberian security sector,” Lassanah said.