NEW YORK – President Joseph N. Boakai representing Liberia, delivered a compelling address at the Fourth World Conference on Women during the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, September 22, 2025. Speaking under the theme of recommitting to resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, President Boakai emphasized Liberia’s determination to transform promises into tangible results for women and youth.
Reflecting on the 30-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, President Boakai called the milestone “an urgent call to action” rather than a ceremonial observance. “Under my leadership, Liberia is determined to move from pledges to results,” he declared, highlighting the country’s leadership in two critical action agendas: ending violence against women and girls, and investing in young people, girls, and future generations.
Central to Liberia’s strategy is the ambitious Agenda for Inclusive Development, which allocates US$8.3 billion over five years to programs that prioritize gender equality, youth empowerment, education, health care, and social development. President Boakai detailed Liberia’s commitments, including zero tolerance for gender-based violence supported by nationwide awareness campaigns, permanent bans on harmful cultural practices, and the implementation of a National Action Plan for young women and girls.
Citing an African proverb, he remarked, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion,” emphasizing that empowering women strengthens entire nations. President Boakai also noted Liberia’s upcoming two-year term on the United Nations Security Council, pledging that the voices of women and youth will play a central role in shaping the Women and Youth Peace and Security agenda.
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, President Boakai shared that the Liberia Women Empowerment Project currently reaches 36,000 businesswomen across six counties, indirectly impacting more than 260,000 Liberians through increased income and resilience. The REALISE Project supports 53,650 vulnerable households, with direct cash transfers benefiting 16,000 families, predominantly led by women, and business support extended to over 4,450 individuals, 80 percent of whom are women.
Other initiatives such as Nurture, Empower, and Protect (NEP) and the Accelerating Impact for Young Women Project have equipped nearly 25,000 adolescent girls and young women with critical health, entrepreneurship, and life skills, with expectations that more than 160,000 young women will benefit by 2031.
President Boakai concluded by reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to collaborate with African nations and the global community to make the Beijing+30 vision a reality for current and future generations. “On behalf of the people of Liberia, I reaffirm our commitment to work with Africa and the global community to make Beijing+30 a reality, for this generation and the next,” he said.
