MONROVIA – In a strong and emotional enchantment that left many in tears, rural ladies’s rights advocate Ma Nowaai Ida Kaiser from Palala, Bong County, stood earlier than tons of of delegates on the Second Nationwide SRHR Convention and made a determined plea to Liberia’s management: “Please take unsafe abortion from me.”
Talking on the three-day convention themed “Breaking Obstacles, Selling Entry to SRHR for All in Liberia,” Ma Nowaai painted a haunting image of the fact dealing with rural ladies who resort to harmful strategies to terminate undesirable pregnancies.
“The place is the Minister of Gender?” she known as out from the stage, her voice breaking with urgency. “I would like you to take one thing from me. Take RPG from me. Please take the cassava sticks from me. Please take the damaged glass bottles from me.”
The Minister of Gender was among the many high-level authorities officers in attendance, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Well being and members of the nationwide legislature.
The convention, organized by the Amplifying Rights Community, a coalition of 10 native organizations, introduced collectively over 700 members from throughout Liberia, streaming stay to 6 satellite tv for pc hubs in rural communities, together with Palala, Gbarnga, and Bopolu.
Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee introduced the dialog house with attribute directness, difficult male politicians who oppose reproductive rights laws.
“To the boys in the home, to the male ministers, so far as the best, till you could have your durations, till you’ve gone by way of month-to-month cramps, their arduous occasions, and all that’s related to reproductive well being of a lady, you haven’t any proper to determine on our our bodies,” Gbowee declared to thunderous applause.
She warned politicians to “cease the politics of girls’s our bodies as a result of our our bodies aren’t a political marketing campaign instrument.”
Gbowee traced the issue to cultural taboos that start in childhood. “From a really early age, they’d made that phrase a nasty phrase,” she defined, recalling how, as youngsters, Liberian women are taught their non-public elements are shameful and untouchable.
Convention coordinator Facia Harris outlined the progress because the first SRHR convention in 2023, which concluded with seven calls to motion, together with ending dangerous practices, enhancing menstrual well being, and implementing gender-responsive budgeting.
Harris emphasised the sturdy institutional participation at this yr’s convention. “We have now seen continuous participation from high-level establishments, together with the Ministry of Well being, the Ministry of Gender, and nationwide coalitions, and particularly the nationwide legislature,” she famous.
Ma Nowaai gave particular recognition to worldwide companions, significantly Sweden. “If I don’t discuss concerning the Swedish authorities, my speech on this stage will likely be incomplete,” she stated, noting the seen presence of Swedish assist throughout growth workplaces in Liberia.
She additionally praised progress in rural schooling entry by way of household planning providers. “Sure, you see now, our younger women can go to high school, they continue to be in class, they usually can end sixth grade now. They’ll end ninth grade,” Ma Nowaai famous.
Ma Nowaai’s central message was one in all geographic inequality. “The panorama, sure, is about whether or not the message about sexual reproductive well being and rights has reached Swaziland. After we attain Soweta, that’s not the top. There are villages behind Soweta. Have we reached there? No.”
She challenged the notion that media campaigns alone might attain rural communities. “After we say that we’re utilizing the media to achieve everyone, what’s the protection? Media individuals, the place is the protection?”
Her metaphor about helpers on the waterside resonated deeply: “Liberian individuals, Liberian authorities, that is the time now for us to place our water on our knees. When the helper comes, they’ll put it on our heads.”
Visitor speaker Dr. Dazon Dixon Diallo from Sister Love Included bolstered the urgency, sharing classes from america, the place hard-won reproductive rights have been just lately overturned.
“Maintain on to your wins. Defend them fiercely. By no means relaxation,” Dr. Diallo warned the Liberian advocates.
Because the convention continues by way of its three-day agenda, members are growing actionable suggestions to strengthen authorized frameworks and repair supply. However Ma Nowaai’s plea stays essentially the most visceral reminder of what’s at stake.
“Please save me. Please save us. Please save the Liberian individuals. Please save the younger individuals,” she implored. “Make secure abortion accessible.”
The convention streams stay throughout six hubs, guaranteeing rural voices stay central to Liberia’s reproductive well being future.
